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SUPPLIED THE NEEDS

COWDENBEATH

FOR

THREE GENERATIONS

FORTUNE

A HOUSEHOLD NAME

FOR

SEVENTY YEARS

tw**±

Gent.*s Tailors

SUITS CUT AND MADE ON THE PREMISES
MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP UNSURPASSED

In the Front
for 68 Years

i.STAm.ismn is 7 s

•:- HIGH -STREET

LAD1ES" SELF-TAILORED COATS & COSTUMES
LARGE VARIETY OF READY-TO-WEAR COATS
SUITS AND GOWNS
DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT WITH REPUTATION

Proprietor

Iliis is the outside

of (Jowden heath's most

Modern Hotel

You are invited -to see
the inside

Only the Best Supplied

ROBERT LOW

Established 1897

SPECIALISTS

Furniture , Hardware, Radio and Cycles

High Street and Stenhouse Street

FOULFORD ARMS

COWDENBEATH'S
ORIGINAL . .
PUBLIC-HOUSE

Established over 70 Years Ago

STILL A POPULAR HOME FROM HOME

OUR JUBILEE

ESTABLISHED 1890.

A. GREIG & SON

Furnishing Ironmongers

317-319 HIGH STREET

COWDENBEATH

We still hold a large Stock of Goods
not subject to Purchase Tax.

Your inquiries and orders will be esteemed

Alexander Muir

Stfnlicr aufc

(Confectioner

High Street

The Finn with the good \
reputation for. (Entering \

Only the Best can

Produce the Best
and the Best can he had

from

JAMES WOOD « SON

/inkers ;tn<l Confectioners

HIGH STREET

COWDENBEATH

The "Fountain" that
never goes dry . . .

THE

Fountain Bar

Broad Street

Mrs MARY SNADDON
Proprietrix

Telephone :
No. 2135 Cowdenbeath

SYDNEY BINNING

<S SON

PLUMBING. HEATING
AM)

SANITARY ENGINEERS
ELECTRIC LIGHT FITTING

STEN HOUSE STREET

AND

221 HIGH STREET

COWDENBEATH

THIS IS THE DAY OF SPECIALISTS

vn; siMiciAi.isi: in

LADIES' and
CHILDREN'S

GOODS

•

Large Selection of

CHILPRUFE

J. CONDIE

241 HIGH STREET

BULK BUYING

MEANS

CHEAPER

SELLING

SHARPS FOR SERVICE

YOU'LL GET

CHEAPER

HERE

Our 30 assistants at our Cowdenbeath

and Kirkcaldy shops you will find are

homely, courteous and willing. They

will do their utmost to make your

shopping a real pleasure. You can also be assured that your

money will buy more at SHARPS. Particularly this is

true more than ever to-day because the extent of

our suppliers covers the British Isles affording

us unlimited scope in securing Stocks

at Correct Prices.

'Phone COWDENBEATH 2 112

THE KEEN DRAPERS

J. & R. SHARP & CO.

"THE KEEN DRAPERS''
HIGH STREET .(At station), COWDENBEATH

And at 290 HIGH STREET (Port Brae end). KIRKCALDY

Our Stocks are varied and consist of Men's Wear.

including Dress Wear & Working Garb: Moleskins. Dungarees.

etc.; Ladies' Wear; Children's Wear; Infant's Garments; Household

Goods; Smallwares. etc.. etc.. all at Keenest Prices and in Great Variety

Our advice to our Customers is BUY

SHOP
SHARPS
SHILLINGS
SAVE

TO-DAY as Stocks are selling fast and are
only replaced with great difficulty, coupled
with the fact that Prices are still rising.

For a sovereign we will give you to-day
40 - worth of goods.

For £1 you will receive 20/- worth of
goods, but shortly for £1 you will only
receive according to to-day's value, approx-
imately 10/- worth of goods.

BUY NOW AND SAVE

SHARPS

HAVE

ALWAYS

REASONABLY

PRICED

STOCKS

WALLPAPERS

PAINTS

ENAMELS

VARNISHES

Go To It !

FERGUSON PAINTS

THEY

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

THE FIRM WITH GOOD MATERIALS
AND SOUND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Phone 2103

Alex. Ferguson & Son

PAINTERS AND DECORATOKS

210 High Street, Cowdenbeath

" Where Granny

did her Shopping. 1

Yes! We have been serving our fellow townsfolk
since the founding of the Burgh. We trust to
merit the continued support of future generations
and hope when the Centenary comes to he able to
say not only Granny but six or seven generations
of satisfied Customers hare dealt with us.

ULLAN'

CHNTRAL STOkIN
18 STATION ROAD

DRAMA

COMEDY

ARCADE CINEMA

COWDENBEATH

Monday to Friday (incl.) continuous from 5.45 p.m.
Saturday, Two Houses, at 6 and 8.30 p.m.

Always something New
and Entertaining at

THE ARCADE

INTEREST

TRAVEL

A. Westwater

Athletic Outfitter

Hardware and China Merchant

HIGH STREET

The Firm with a seventy years'

reputation for sterling worth

and efficient service

After Fifty Years

STILL THE SAME FIRM

Commercial Hotel

STILL THE SAME NAMI-

Alexander Campbell

History of

Cowdenbeath

BY ROBERT HOLMAN

Pl.'ULISMEn ON tiii: OCCASION Ol-

THE JUBILEE OF THE BURG
1890- 1940

IH NTCUMI.INI::
I. II. MACK 1 1: Ov:' CO.. I.TIV

19 4 1.

Cowdenbeath from North-West.

\Vo

]

History of Cowdenbeath

»> 11

Preface by

PROVOST

YOUNG

I have been privileged to sec an advance copy of the " H-' ]tory of
Cowdenbeath." While I was looking forioard with interest to lea<n of the
early life of the Burgh, I must admit a pleasant surprise at the wealth of
information contained in this volume note presented to the public- I must
congratulate the Author on the excellence of the production, and 1 am
sure the vast majority of the inluibitants of the toivn will find a great
deligJit in reading the very interesting incidents that marked the life of
the village and the early days of tiie Burgh.

Like the rest of the inhabitants. I had no idea that Cowdenbeath had
such an interesthig history, and. as Provost of the town with many years'
experience in municipal work. I must congratulate the pioneers on their
splendid work which laid the foundations of the excellent town we have
to-day and of which we have just cause to be proud.

The life of Cowdenbeath from the formation of the Burgh 50 years
ago has been one of steady progress. I am quite sure that a large number
of these books will find their way across the Atlantic and to all parts of
the world w)iere Cowdenbeath natives have made their homes, and to
those I send tlie greetings of tfie town on tiie historic occasion of f/ic
Jubilee of the Burgh.

Like the rest of you. I deeply deplore the circumstances which have
prevented us from celebrating the Jubilee of the BurgJi in the Difliiiici
befitting such an occasion, but my message to-day is one of encouragement
and strong hopes that soon the War will be over and, in celebrating our
national victory, we may still have an opportunity to carry out our local
Jubilee celebrations. May tliat be very soon-

Cowdenbeath, April 1941.

JOHN YOUNG.

Provost.

■ k History of Cowdenbeath

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Now that the History of Cowdenbeath is an accomplished fact, I
wish to express the great pleasure I have experienced while collecting
the material for this work. On reviewing it, I have only one regret to
voice. I would have liked, had I been permitted to have dealt with,
individually, many more of the outstanding characters of the village and
town whom I have been privileged to meet in my lifetime — nearly all spent
in Cowdenbeath. These include the different Provosts of the town, includ-
ing the " Big-hearted Geordie Penman," Jimmy Murray the barber (the
local poet) and all the others who have helped to brighten the town. I
feel also I should have specially referred to the outstanding personality
of Mr George Terris, who surprisingly found the time outside of his
multifarious duties to do so much good anonymously for the community.

Outside of the list of men in public life I have always been impressed
with the many modest personalities lying in Beath Churchyard whose lives
could easily be associated with the beautiful passages in Gray's " Elegy."
I just mention one I can easily picture in my mind — an old white-haired
lady, long before the introduction of district nurses, who went about the
town nursing the poor and needy sick. Her only call to her self-imposed
duty was the knowledge that some poor person was sick and needed nursing
and attention, and her only reward was the knowledge that she had done
something to relieve pain and to stretch out the hand of sympathy in this
practical manner. I have met this dear old lady at all hours of the night
and in all weathers, and I have on many occasions raised my hat
to her as she passed me on her errands of mercy. Her name — Mrs Hunter,
Union Street.

This dear old lady and others I met years ago were the remnants of a
beautiful trait found in Cowdenbeath in its mining village days. It was
very pronounced in the " miners' raws," and of which a writer has written
truly : —

" In cases of sickness, death, or accident, the latter in a mining com-
munity, coming upon them at a moment's notice, a sympathetic neighbour
is a friend indeed, and it is to her the afflicted one goes for sympathy in the
full knowledge that she will not be denied. Should one be sick the other
will send her daughter or go herself to ' tidy up her hoose/ make the meals,
and attend to the general comforts of both her and her family. In time
of mourning and sadness she also mourns, and is a great comfort in an afflic-
tion, her kindly words and tactful disposition opening out a means of relief
to the bereaved.

" In time of rejoicing — a birth, marriage, or a christening — a next door
neighbour is of great assistance, and enters the spirit of the event as much
as the woman herself. Her household effects and her labours are given
with a spirit of ' neeborliness ' knowing well that such services will also be
returned in her time of need."

In closing I wish to thank all those ladies and gentlemen who have
placed necessary information at my disposal, and I feel I must mention the
Rev. G. P. McWilliam and those officials of the Town Council and Parish
Council who have so unsparingly given me their assistance.

■)•' >H

I.* it "!

History of Cowdenbeath

VISIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA

Her Impressions

-o.,

WHEN Queen Victoria passed
through Cowdenbeath on
her way to Balmoral, just
before the introduction of
the railway service, she did
not appear to be favourably impressed
by the appearance of the village and its
surroundings. One can scarcely be sur-
prised that the change from the beauti-
ful surroundings of the River Forth area
to the marshland and moorland country
of the West Fife mining area should
have created such an impression.

In these bleak and unpromising sur-
roundings the village of Cowdenbeath
was situated, but, out of the midst of
these, it has, by the untiring efforts ot
its inhabitants and their elected repre-
sentatives, arisen to its present state 01
prosperity and importance. Although,
in the ordinary course of events, mis-
takes have been made and many laud-
able schemes frustrated by reason of
inexperience and lack of foresight it
must be chronicled that much good has
been accomplished and many note-
worthy schemes carried to a successful
issue.

DERIVATION OF COWDENBEATH.

Opinion is divided as to the origin of
the word "Cowdenbeath." It is a
common belief that the word was de-

rived from two old words which mean
"valley of birches," and this interpre-
tation has been accepted to the extent
that the birch tree finds a place in the
badge of Beath Secondary School.
Another conjecture is that the word
" beath " means an estate, and this is
strengthened by the fact that so many
place names in the neighbourhood end
in " beath," such as Meiklebeath. Steven-
sonsbeath, Leuchatsbeath, Halbeath. and
Swintonsbeath. Certainly, the names
of Swinton, Stevenson and Meikle give
the impression that these were owners
of small estates which bore their names,
and it may be assumed that Cowden-
beath was once a small estate owned by
a man named " Gowden"

EARLY DAYS.

How did Cowdenbeath come into
existence ? In Blaeus Map of Fife, pub-
lished in 1654, Cowdenbeath is marked
as " Cowden Beth." It can therefore be
taken for granted that there was a place
of that name at that date, but the prob-
ability is that it existed at a much earlier
period. This is borne out to some extent
by the many geographical mistakes ' in
the map. For instance, » .large sheet of
water is shown at the foot of Hjum
Beath, which appeal's as several hills
named Hills of Bath. At the time of the

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u/,

History of Cowdenbeath

Reformation, and the Protestant activi-
ties which preceded it, a conventicle was
,. held on Hill of Beath, so that it can be
taken for granted that there was only
one hill, not several as seen in Blaeus
map, and this conventicle was held in
the reign of Henry VIII. of England, who
reigned from 1509 to 1547. It is quite
possible, however, that the sheet of
water at Hill of Beath may be meant for
the small pond we have always known
as the Bleachfield Pond, and the "river"
shown on the map may refer to the
small burn that leads from it to Loch-
gelly Loch. If this is so, it only streng-
thens the contention that the map was
badly drawn, as Bleachfield Pond does
not lie at the base of the Hill of Beath,
nor has it the dimensions of a loch, and
the size of the small burn that flows
from it past the new sewage works is
much exaggerated. A church is shown
at Lumphinnans situated near the River
Ore at about the vicinity of No. XL
Colliery. The River Tay is named Tay
Fluvius, but it was called the River Tay
long before 1654. From these and other
indications in the map, it is thought that
Blaeus, who was a Dutchman, must have
reprinted his map from a much earlier
one.

When the actual name of Cowden-
beath came into being is not known, but v
it is thought it originated when turnpike
roads were first made and that it marked
the spot of an inn and later of a toll-
house erected in the seventeenth
century.

ROMAN CAMP.

Who the earliest inhabitants were is a
very hard auestion to answer. Accord-
ing to " Fife : Pictorial and Historical."
" a battle was fought here in ancient
times between the Caledonians and the
Romans, in which the latter were driven
from the field. The site of a Roman
Camn has been traced at a short distance
to the North-West of the Parish of
Beath." It is generallv considered that
that refers to the old golf course on
Leuchatsbeath, though that can hardly
he described as North-West. It could
be more appropriately described as
North-East, although there is a common
belief that at one time Beath stretched
much further East, and in that case the
description would be correct. The story
of Leuchatsbeath being a Roman Camp

site has been handed down verbally
through the generations.

Early Britons

HISTORICAL FINDS.

But there were inhabitants here be-
fore the Roman Conquest, as proved by
the burial urns found on Cowdenbeath
golf course in 1928. There were
in all five such urns, all of which had
been buried so near the surface that
each one had been broken at the top by
a plough-share. They were in such a
condition, however, that two of them
were re-made and are now at Cowden-
beath after being on exhibition in a
museum in Glasgow and Kensington
Museum in London.

According to two Archaeologists. Mr
Ludovic Mann, of Glasgow, and Mr
Lacaille, of London, they relate to
a period before the Roman Age.
Mr Mann stated that they were
the burial urns of a race who
entered Scotland from the North at a
time when the only habitable grounds
were highlands. They lived at different
places for several years before migrating
Southwards, and at each place they
made a cemetery, always of the same
shape, a round piece of ground sym-
metrical in shape and fifteen yards from
any point on the outside to the highest
point in the centre. This measurement
was tested by Mr Mann and was found
to be correct. He further explained that
the body was cremated on a fire of wood
and what was left of the bones was
placed in the urn and covered with a
Dart of dried goatskin before it was
buried. The urns were made of clay,
and before they hardened in the sun's
rays they were ornamented by placing
dried grass in a pattern round the top.
When the clav was hard the dried grass
was removed. A stone hammer, with
indentations for the fingers, fashioned
to represent a human head, was also
found nearby. Dr J. H. Veitch, of Cow-
denbeath, was an interested spectator on
the occasion of the visit of Mr Mann and
Mr Lacaille.

The following year Mr Lacaille. in his
address to the Archaeological Society,
stated that the find had been one of the
most interesting archaeological discover-
ies in recent years.

History of Cowdenbeath

This is a photograph of some of the relics.

On the left and right are two shards
or sepulchral urns often described as
Cinerary Urns- The one on the left con-
tained the cremated bones of a female
and a young person, while the one on
the right contained the cremated bones
of a large person, probably a male. In
this urn was found a small fragment of
secondarily worked olive coloured Arran
pitch stone, seen on the top of the box
containing some of the bones found in
the urns. In front of the urn on the
right is the quartz hammer head
fashioned into the shape of a human

head. , ^ . , ,

Various archaeological experts, includ-
ing a Professor of History from Poland
and Sir Arthur Keith, F.R.S., Hon.
F.S.A.. Scot., speak of the great import-
ance of the find.

The Professor of History states that
the cemetery relates to the Neolithic
Age which was from 3000 years B.C. to
1800 B.C., and is of the opinion that the
hammer head was an idol of some holy
man" of that period, and of great his-
torical value. Others maintain that
there are indications that the cemetery
was in use in the Bronze Age, such as
the presence of green crust on a frag-
ment of bone indicates that some brass

or copper article had been buried with
the bones in an urn, and the presence of
the Arran pitchstone an " interesting
indication of commerce or travel in the
late Bronze Age, for although pitch-
stone implements have already been
noted from the Eastern Counties of Scot-
land this is the first recorded example
from a locality North of the Forth."

COWDENBEATH AN INN AND CHURCH.

In a very early Gazeteer Cowdenbeath
was disposed of with two words, and
they were: " See Lochgelly." The only
information in that was that Lochgelly
must have had more importance than
Cowdenbeath at one time, which, in a
way, brings out some of the truth of the
old couplet which runs something like
this: —
"Lochgelly was Lochgelly when
Cowdenbeath was a pup,
Lochgelly will be Lochgelly when
Cowdenbeath is petered up."

The word "petered" is inserted here
for politeness' sake, and Cowdenbeath
will never admit the Lochgelly boast in
that last line. How long Lochgelly had
the great honour of embracing Cowden-
beath in the matter of giving it a local

History of Cowdenbeath

habitation is only a matter of conjecture,
but, in the next edition of the Gazeteer,
Cowdenbeath had a space all to itself.
Certainly it was not long, for it only
stated that Cowdenbeath possessed a
hotel and a church. Not much, but still
it gives something to go on with. First
of all, there was a church, although not
in the village, so that it must have been
Kirk of Beath, which not only was the
only church for Cowdenbeath but for
the whole of Beath Parish.

Beath Church

Beath Church is of great antiquity.
We have information that the first Beath
Church was built in the Thirteenth Cen-
tury on or near the site of the present
Church, which was built at a later date,
but very little is known about Church
affairs until the Reformation years-
Actually twenty years previous to the
Reformation the leaders in that move-
ment met at Beath Church to discuss
the spread of Protestantism.

In the Seventeenth Century the Re-
formers were still carrying on, and it is
recorded that a great gathering of Pro-
testants was held on Hill of Beath — a
meeting that was attended by people
from all over Fife. It is known that the
speakers that day included two famous
men— Rev. John Blackadder, the ejected
minister of Traquair, and the Rev. John
Dickson, who was removed from his
charge at Rutherglen. The meeting was
held in the well-known hollow at the

top of the Hill, the crater of an exfmct
volcano, associated with many of the
Rev. Jacob Primmer's Protestant con-
venticles at the end of the last and be-
ginning of the present century. It was
well known that the church dignitaries
had the support of the military, to
suppress such meetings, and on that
occasion the military put in an appear-
ance in the midst of the service. How-
ever, the military, according to one
statement recorded, had more gumption
than the church dignitaries and the ser-
vice was allowed to go on without
molestation.

By this time, the Stewarts or Morays,
who own a great deal of the land in
Beath, had settled down at Donibristle.
The first to come was Sir James Stuart,
a direct descendant of Robert, Duke of
Albany, who obtained a charter confer-
ring upon him the lands and barony of
Beath in 1545. The next year his son,
James, was appointed one of the Canons
of Inch Colme, and in 1590 his son,
Henry, followed him. He was the
younger brother of the Bonnie Earl of
Moray, who was murdered on the lawn
of Donibristle House and who, according
to the song written about him, " was too
guid to dee." The Bonnie Earl had suc-
ceeded to the title by his wife, the eldest
daughter of the Regent Moray. The
Charter which gave to Sir James
Stewart the Barony of Beath is actually
dated 1543, and was conferred on him
for a very large sum in connection with
the repair of the monastery lately
burned by the enemies from England —
the lands belonging to Baith, Kelty, the
lands of Craigbeath, occupied by John
Orrock. Kir Baith. occupied by John
Drummond, Bathillocks, Hilltoun,
Schelis (which later became Shiels),
Eastertoun, Mourtoun and Nethertown.
Coalheughlandis, with the coals thereof,
occupied by John Bererage. and Mill of
Beath with mill lands and multures
thereof." Before the Reformation.
Beath was under Dunfermline, and in
1574 Alexander Steven was appointed
Redaire of Beath at a stipend of £16 per
year. One of the prominent reformers
in this district at that time was the Rev.
John Durie, who lived an adventurous
life in carrying out his fight for the Pro-
testant faith. In 1573 he was translated
to Edinburgh, and was imprisoned for
making an attack on the Royal family.
Though admonished, he was banished

History of Cowdenbeath

from the city- The people demanded his
return, and he had a triumphal entry to
Edinburgh as a result. His connection
with Cowdenbeath is that he had a pen-
sion of " sixty six pundes thirteen shill-
ings and fourpence " on the surety of
rents in the Parish of Beath. This pen-
sion was granted by Robert Pitcairn,
the Commendator of Dunfermline.

PIONEER MINERS.

Why a Dunfermline Commendator
could give away these sureties on Beath
lands was something hard to understand
until a charter was found, granted in
1572 in connection with a " coal-heuch "
by the Commendator of Dunfermline
Abbey to Sir William Douglas of Loch
Leven. The monks of Dunfermline
were pioneer miners, as is well known,
and worked on outcrop seams in Pitten-
crieff Glen away back in the thirteenth
century. Not only so, but it is very
interesting to know from the charter in
question that they had as well for many
years drawn coal from a mine at Kelty.

UNCHARTED MINE AT KELTY.

Several years ago an uncharted coal
mine was discovered at Kelty in the
vicinity of the present Blairadam Brick-
work. It was found by workmen who
were digging for clay for the brickwork
at a depth of about 20 feet. They came
across a narrow roadway about 3 feet
broad and 3 feet high, along which it was
quite apparent the coal was carried in
the dark, the person carrying the coal
being guided by a ledge of coal left for
that purpose on the left hand side, so
that while he or she (probably a he, if
the coal was worked by the monks)
carried the coal with his right hand and
directed himself with his left. The
shaft of that pit, if there was a .vertical
shaft, was never discovered. In all
probability it was only an incline and
emerged at the surface and, of course,
was filled in during the course of time.

FIRST BEATH KIRK.

The date of the first Beath Church is

also that of Aberdour and Dalgety

Churches, as the charters were granted

.by the Bishop of Dunkeld at the same

time. However, while the original
buildings of Aberdour and Dalgety still
stand, the Church of Beath fell into
ruins in the middle of the sixteenth
century, and we are told that, following
the Reformation, while all other
churches in Fife had been planted and
grew, poor Kirk of Beath was neglected
and lay desolate.

TERRIBLE RECORD.

We are told that, on Sunday, instead
of meeting to hear the minister or, as he
was called, " pastoure," young and old
assembled and made the "Lorde's Daye"
one of profane mirth. At these meet-
ings a '" pyper " sometimes appeared, and
so strong a hold had " Sautin " on the
people that many went as far as to dance
and play football. Not only so, but the
men sometimes " fell out and wounded
one another." The church was neglected,
and, as a result, we are told that the
original pre-reformation church became
frequented by nomads and became a
shelter for sheep.

PRESENT CHURCH ERECTED.

Tli is is a terrible record for the early
Cowdenbeath people, but here Kelty
came to the rescue, and we find that a
Mr Alexander Colville, belonging to
Blair at Kelty, became tired of such
scenes of debauchery and drinking in
excess on the Sunday, and when he was
" stirred by the Lord " he convened a
meeting atKelty to consider the rebuild-
ing of 'Kirk of 'Beath. He found this
very difficult, as the people in the Parish
were so poor; but he found many
farmers, however, who gave the use of
horses and carts free for the carting of
stones from neighbouring quarries and
others who gave their labours to the
Committee, so that in a few months the
reconstructed building was opened. Then
there was a great revival, and so many
people came from far and near, even
" out of every citie." that there was diffi-
culty in providing a preaching place for
the pastor- Thus we have that much to
thank Kelty for.

History of Church

At this time the Rev. John Rorr or
Row of Carnock, mentioned in thft

History of Cowdenbeutli

records of the Kirk Session of Beath,
took a great interest in Beath Church
and had Beath created a separate
ecclesiastical Parish, disjoined from
Aberdour and Dalgety in 1643. But the
Rev. Robert Bruce, minister of Aber-
dour, Dalgety and Beath, was not too
enthusiastic, for though he had neg-
lected Beath very badly, he refused to
surrender any of the endowments con-
nected with Beath. We find him in 1646
applying to the Estates of Parliament for
the ratification of the document of 1637,
placing him in charge of the three kirks
and entitling him to constant stipend,
teinds, fruits, rents and emoluments. He
was successful, but the people of the
Parish rose to the occasion and raised
£1500 to provide a stipend for the
minister, the Rev. Mr Smith of Culross.
We sometimes wonder if the holding of
a bazaar, whist drive and dance, raffle
tickets or football sweepstakes (seeing
that they played football on Sunday pre-
viously) were the means of getting that
£1500, for we read that the population
of the Parish of Beath in 1801 was only
613, and only rose by 116 in the next
twenty years. It is feared that further
records of the Church have been lost,
until a minute book of Beath Kirk
Session commences in 1691. It begins
with the ordination of the Rev. Alex-
ander Steedman on 9th June, 1691. In
the second minute, that of a meeting
held the same month, the names of
David Dewar, Lassodie, John Stevenson
of Stevensonsbeath, and Hutton of
Hilton appear. This is very interesting,
as it associates the well-known Laird
Dewar with Lassodie and also gives an
indication of how Stevensonsbeath, a
part of Cowdenbeath, got its name. It
is very unfortunate that the writing and
spelling of the session clerk in these days
is so difficult to decipher that much
valuable information is lost.

However, in a later book we can trace
the ministers of the church from 1798.
In that year the minister, the Rev. James
Reid, died on 24th March, a gentleman
who left behind him some interesting
information about the church. The Rev.
James Hutton followed on 16th August,
1799, and he died in 1811, and the Rev.
Thomas Millar was ordained in 1812.
The next minister was the famous Dr
Fergusson, who was ordained in 1815,
and who was minister of the church
until 1866. The Rev. Mr Hogg was

minister until 1870, and in his place
came the Rev. A. C. McPhail, who was
minister for six years. The Rev. John
Sinclair was the next minister, and he
preached until his death in 1915. He
was followed by the Rev. A. J. S. Dickie,
who was translated to Cambuslang in
1928. The Rev. Mr Marshall was only
minister for a year, and in 1929 came the
present minister, the Rev. G. P.
McWilliam.

Rev. Dr Fergusson, Beath Churcli.

BEATH KTRK SESSION AND RELIEF OK POOR.

The Kirk Session of Beath did more
than look after the interests of the
church — they looked after the poor of
the Parish and paid out poor relief prior
to the passing of the Poor Law Act of
1845- From the records, it is very appar-
ent that the payments to the poor only
provided for a bare sustenance, a matter
of a few shillings per week in some
cases and less in others.

THE BERRY BEQUEST.

Another very interesting book in the
possession of Beath Kirk Session is the
Minute Book of the Berry Bequest, a
fund to which many of the successful
natives of Cowdenbeath have been in-
debted for the education that fitted them
for their present positions. There is a
pathetic touch in the pretty story' of the

History o/ Cowdenbeuth

foundation of that Bequest, which is not
generally known. Heading between the
lines of the legal phraseology in a will
that constitutes the Bequest, it is
learned that a certain Francis Berry and
his wife, Jean Currie of Moss-side, Cow-
denbeath, had a son, John Berry, who
was a student of divinity. He was their
only son, and their hearts were set on
his becoming a great preacher; but that
was denied them by his untimely death.
Just before his death he recommended
his parents to set aside part of " what
they were possessed " as a fund for edu-
cating certain poor of the Parish. The
parents willingly acceded to this request
of their son, and on the death of the
survivor of them in 1828 the Berry Be-
quest came into existence. Many poor
children were given free education at
Cowdenbeath School and Kelty School
at Cantsdam, and when school fees were
abolished other children received fees
for their education in Dunfermline High
School and, in some cases, assistance
to be educated at Edinburgh University.
The money for the Bequest came from
feu-duties and rents of house property
in Lochgelly, where Francis Street and
Berrv Street are named after the bene-
factors. The last meeting of the Berry
Bequest Committee was held in Loch-
gelly on 1st March, 1885. and after that
date the administration was placed in
the hands of Beath School Board and,
after the passing of the Education (Scot-
land) Act 1918. to the Fife Education
Committee.

DAYS OF BURKE AND HARK.

In connection with the days of Burke
and Hare, who robbed newly mede
graves of the bodies interred and took
them to Edinburgh, Beath Churchyard
has been spoken of as one of the places
visited, and precautions were taken to
prevent body-snatching. For many
years what were taken to be two iron
coffins without lids dug up from the old
church vard lay near the old hearse
house " These were not coffins, but were
old-time " safes," and were of different
size, and one was placed over the coffin
to hinder the work of the body-
snatchers. Another preventative was
the placing of a large flat stone on top
of the grave. This stone was very
heavy and was placed on the grave

and removed by means of a trestle hoist,
the rope going through the stone and
fastened on the under side, and it re-
mained there until the danger of
"snatching" was past. The two "safes"
have disappeared, but the fiat stone is
still to be seen near the church. In
addition to the above precautions, the
graves were guarded by armed farm
workers, who kept watch for several
nights at the churchyard.

KIRK ROAU AND KIGHT OK WAYS.

The fact that Beath Church supplied
a very large area v/as responsible for
many "kirke roads" coming into exist-
ence, roads that form rights-of-way to-
day; but several have been lost. One
such road was from Lassodie, and
entered upon the Old Perth Road about
a hundred yards North of the Church.
Another was from Lumphinnans direc-
tion right through the present Public
Park of Cowdenbeath. That has been
lost .for want of being used. Another
kirk road from Aberdour Parish crossed
Broad Street at the old Bleachficld. Part
of that road is used to-day, although
slightly altered, at Moss-side Colliery.
Another right-of-way brought about by
being a kirk road was thought to be
from Fordell. and took the track of the
Fordell Colliery railway from the centre
of the village to the site of the Alice Pit
and joined the Moss-side right-of-way
in Broad Street.

One tombstone — that of the Aitken
family of Loch-head — points to the
existence of a kirk road from that farm
over a mile to the East of Cowdenbeath,
and that may have been the right-of-
way that passed Foul ford Pit. known as
the Fair Helen,

THOUGHTS OK THE POOR.

In connection with that tombstone
there is a very interesting story. This
stone is a large flat one immediately to
the South of the Church. One of the
persons buried there was a Miss Aitken
of Lochhead, who ordered that a
hundred pounds be set aside for invest-
ment and the interest from the money
was to be taken to keep the grave neat
and tidy, to keep the church walls and
gates in repair, and the rest was to be
given annually to the five poorest per-

sons in the Parish. The first part of the
instructions is being faithfully carried
out, but there is no need for the second
part, as the maintenance of the walls
and gates is now the responsibility of the
County Council. The last part, too, is
being carried out, and each year the re-

History of Cowdenbeath

mainder of the interest on the money
now invested in war loans, after the
grave has been attended to, is given to
the five poorest persons in the Parish
There are always a number of persons
who lay claim to be the poorest in the
Parish," states the Rev. G. P. McWilluim.

Cowdenbeath 50 Years Ago, showing Inn and Old Toll

There is no doubt that the Inn men-
tioned in the brief description of Cow-
denbeath in the Gazeteer was the Cow-
denbeath Inn. That building did not
always stand where it does to-day. it
was on the other side of the road where
the premises of Messrs Dicks Co-opei-
ative Institutions now stand, and previ-
ously owned by Mr George Bickerton.
There was a posting establishment at
the rear, which was acquired by Cow-
denbeath Coal Company. Limited, it
was certainly an old building and was
one of the many similar inns that stood
on the side of main turnpike roads, and
it is recorded that on one occasion it was
the scene of the changing of horses when
Queen Victoria coached to Balmoial.
The Inn. on its present site, was built by
Mr McLean, on whose death his widow
married Mr John Brunton .who also
owned Thistleford Farm; one of the few
fanner* to own his own threshing mill

driven by a water wheel, and many o\
the smaller farmers used to gel men-
threshing done at his mill. On the death
of Mr Brunton. the widow earned on.
She was a very popular hostess m the
village, and was familiarly spoken ot :i>
Eezie McLean and later as Eezie brun-
ton. On her death, the hotel was taken
over bv Charles McLean, her son. He
was followed by his .son, Mr \V.lum
McLean, who was killed in Frame on
the day that the Armistice was signed m

' Brunton's Hall, on the opposite side
of the street, was built by Mr Brimlou.
and subsequently acquired by Cowdei -
beath Co-operative Society. It w^ "
Brunton's Hall that the public moot m«
decided to form the village into a ButjJ>
™ 24th November 1890. When the now
turnpike road from Queensferry to
Perth was constructed, the Innfiamjii
much in importance. Before this timt\

History of Cowdenbeath

the road to Perth did not pass through
Cowdenbeath, but passed through Hill
of Beath, Kelty and Maryburgh, where
it took a sharp turn, and thence to the
Parenwell Bridge. It can, then, be
gathered that Cowdenbeath was made
much more important when the new
North Road was made and passed along
Broad Street and High Street, long be- v
fore Perth Road, as a street, was
thought of-

VILLAGE OF CROFTS.

There is every reason to believe that
" .Cowdenbeath was at one time only an
agricultural district, with numerous
crofts and small farms. Besides Thistle-
ford Farm, there were the farms of
White Threshes, where D.C.I, restaurant
is now situated; another was in Union
. Street; another was in High Street
where the New Picture House now
stands; and another where Armstrong's
joiner workshop is situated; another,
called McNaught's Dairy, in Foulford
Road; another in the vicinity of Bowling
Green Street, and another called Cow-
denbeath Farm near the site of what is
now No. 7 Pit, where hunting dogs were
bred.
Little is known about Cowdenbeath in
/ the early days, but from the rapid de-
crease in the population at the close of
the eighteenth century it may be
assumed that it was then one of Scot-
land's slowly decaying villages.

A DESERTED VILLAGE.

In 1790 a statement was made that the
population of Beath Parish had de-
creased considerably within the orcvi-
ous twentv years. This was not due to
anv " epidemical distemper," for the
people were very healthy, but because
of the practice of laying out so much
ground in grass, by which means the
farmers carried on their labours with
fewer hands than formerly. However
an increase took place between 1821 and
1831 because of the additional number
of men employed at the collieries. Dur-
ing the previous hundred years the
copulation of the Jparish had increased
from 450 to 8296. ( This increase, to a
very large measure, referred particu-
^- larlv to Kelty. where the digging of coal
on the coal heughs had been carried on
before it was started at Cowdenbeath.

It is true to state that great poverty was
prevalent, and an old lady of Cowden-
beath, who died many years ago, said
that at this time poverty was so rampant
that a large marrow bone was used on
successive days to make soup in cottar
houses. She got this information from
her aged mother, who resided for many
years at Kirk of Beath. This was before
the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846.

The demand for the repeal of these
Laws was taken up at Lochgelly, where
a large procession was formed to come '
to Cowdenbeath. In the front was a
very large loaf carried aloft by a promi-
nent citizen of Lochgelly.

IRON ORE DISCOVERED.

The population of the Parish doubled
itself in the next ten years — from 1252
to 2390 — and the chief reason was the
discovery of rich beds of iron ore at
Cowdenbeath.

PROSPERITY BEGINS.

About 1850 the Oakley Iron Company,
who had blast furnaces at Oakley, came
on the scene- Shafts for iron ore were
sunk in the vicinity of the old Foulford
Washer. It was in the mining for ore
that the discoveries of the coal seams
were made, and pits were sunk at every
corner of the town. Prior to this, coal
had been mined at Fordell for over a
century, but the discovery of the coal
seams at the depth they were found
came as a pleasant surprise, considering
the dip in the coal strata at Fordell, and
it was thought that at Cowdenbeath the
seams would be at such a depth as to be
almost unworkable, but it was found
that the much condemned " hitches,"
instead of being a drawback had proved
a blessing, for the disturbance of the
metals had thrown up the coal seams to
a much higher level. Iron ore became
less valuable because of the large quan-
tities found in Sweden, and coal gradu-
ally took its place.

AN EARLY COAL PIONEER.

One of the earliest pioneers in the coal
industry in this district was a John
Syme of Cartmore (then known as Kirk-
moor), but little is known of him or his
ventures. Small pits were opened out
at many places. There were two in the

L^Mj^i

History of Cowdenbeath

vicinity of Jubilee Park, which were
sunk only to the upper seams, and the
coal was disposed of by a " hutch way "
to two different points in High Street
and carted to the various customers or
to the docks at Burntisland. Oakley
Iron Company became a Coal Company
and their houses, which were on both
sides of Broad Street near High Street
became homes for coal miners instead of
iron ore miners. By the time No 3 Pit
was sunk, behind the present Labour
Exchange, the North British Railway
Company had come to the village and
carried the coal for export to Burnt-
island and Methil.

MOSS MORRAN DISASTER.

One serious mining disaster falls to
be recorded in the history of Cowden-
beath. It occurred in 1901 outside the
Burgh boundary, when eight men lost
their lives.

A number of men were working in a
section of No. 12 Pit, Donibristle Col-
liery, at a considerable distance from
the pit bottom, and their task was to
make an outlet to the surface. When
they were working about fifteen yards
from the surface they broke through
into a bed of moss and peat. They were
trapped by the thousands of tons of the
liquid moss that surged in upon them.

blocking all means of escape. The
alarm spread, and a rescue party braved
the dangerous task of trying to rescue
their fellow-workers. They, too, were
trapped. A second rescue party was
formed from the hundreds of volun-
teers, and they had just sent word to
the surface that they had come across
some of the men originally trapped
when, all at once, there was another
surge of the moss, and they, too were
cut off. The work of rescue went on,
and although some men were rescued,
eight men lost their lives. Four of
these — George Hutchison, Alexander
Smith, William Forsyth and D. Camp-
bell — had been originally entombed,
while the other four were members of
the first rescue party — William Hynd.
James McDonald, Thomas Rattray (a
member of Cowdenbeath Town Council)
and Andrew Paterson.

In recognition of their bravery, in-
scribed gold watches were presented by
the Proprietors of the Daily Telegraph
to Messrs John Sneddon. John Jones and
Robert Law. Gifts of a hundred pounds
each were given by Mr Andrew Car-
negie to these three men and also to Mr
James Dick. and. in addition, all four
were the recipients of a diploma and a
medal of the Grand Priory Order of the
Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in
England.

Robert Law.

Richardson.

History of Cowdenbeath

John Sheddon

Of these four men, only ex-Baihe
Sheddon is alive. Law is the Law of
football fame, and Jones was a well-
known evangelist. Eighteen others re-
ceived a gold medal suitably inscribed.
A local author, referring to the incident,
writes in li Character Studies of the
Miners of West Fife ":— " In the forma-
tion of a person's character the environ-
ment exerts a powerful influence. This
fact is strongly emphasised in the life of
the miner and his family- His labour
is of a perilous nature, and though his
speech and manner may be apt to be
rough and ready, the qualities that pro-
duce heroes are often conspicuous. A
very praiseworthy feature is the willing-
ness with which* a miner will risk his
life in the hope of saving the life of a
fellow-workman. In such unfortunate
disasters as Moss Morran, Donibristle.
and at Hill of Beath, there was no need
to call for volunteers to risk their lives
to try and save the unfortunate men
when" especially in the former instance,
a yawning chasm in a treacherous bog
was the only entrance. ' Abandon hope
all ye who enter here ' seemed to be in-
scribed round that veritable gate of
death. Yet, notwithstanding the fact
that experience taught them the great
risk volunteers vied with each other to
make a last effort to rescue the impris-
oned men. And when all was over and

the roll was called, who were found
missing ? Four of the original party of
volunteers. This action portrays the
true miner. Who in their class would
not have done likewise?"

NAME OF COWDENBEATH DECIDED.

At the time when the coal trade
started its boom. Cowdenbeath was
divided into a few districts named after
the various farms. One part was called
Cowdenbeath, after the farm near the
present No. 7 Pit. Another part was
called White Threshes, called after the
farm just on the Burgh Boundary on the
Burntisland Road not far from the pre-
sent Labour Club Rooms and Hall,
better known locally as The Ritz.
Another part was called Foulford. after
the Foulford Estate, acquired later by
the Cowdenbeath Coal Company, who
took over the Forth Coal Company,
known before as the Oakley Coal Com-
pany. This district was in the vicinity
of Union Street, and some distance to
the East Foulford Pit was sunk. This
pit was not very far from the original
Foulford Pit which previously belonged
to Lochgelly Coal Company and which
later was used as an auxiliary shaft, for
the new pit. There were, however, two
other districts— Kirkford. in the vicinity
of Cross Keys on the Old Perth Road,
and Moss-side, named after the farm
there. In consequence of the steady in-
crease in the population, caused by this
development, the village was now
assuming the proportions of a town, and
it was felt by the inhabitants that the
time had come when the various dis-
tricts should be under one name.

A public meeting was called for this
purpose, and, according to the late Mi-
Archibald Hodge and the late Provost
Marshall, the choice narrowed down to
two names — Cowdenbeath and White
Threshes — and the former was the ulti-
mate decision. Later, in 1890. when the
question of a name arose again at the
proposed formation of the village into
a burgh, two names were mentioned
this time — Cowdenbeath and Foulford
— and again Cowdenbeath was decider 1
upon.

FIFE COAL COMPANY ARRIVES.

Coal was being worked very exten-
sively at this time, and no surprise wa r
created when, in 1896. the Cowdenbeath

History of Cowdenbeath

Coal Company was merged into the Fife
Coal Company. An older Coal Company
to be taken over by the Fife Coal Com-
pany was that of Donibristle, owned by
the Naysmith family of Donibristle, and
this colliery, although it provided work
for the inhabitants of the village of
Donibristle, also provided work for a
large number who resided at Cowden-
beath. During this time most of the
miners who resided in the South side of
Cowdenbeath — in Arthur Street, Arthur

Place, Bridge Street and Burnside Place
— were employed by Lochgelly Iron and
Coal Company, who owned the Raith
Colliery nearby. It was the need for
housing accommodation for their work-
men that was responsible for the Com-
pany building the houses that formed
Arthur Place and Arthur Street. The
houses in Thistle Street mostly belonged
to a gentleman named Haliey, which
was responsible for the street being
originally called Halley's Row.

Photograph of veteran miners taken in 1896 at the merging of Cowdenbeath
Coal Company with Fife Coal Company.

Back Row— Jot- Walker. James Philip. John Hunter. Peter Dry lie. William Bi-\ ciUlnc.

Front Row — John Cameron, James Mcnzies. James McGuirc. Walter Muirheail. John Miller. John Fnnl.

More Prosperity

YEARS OF THE BIG PEYS.

About seventy years ago the village
became more prosperous. Much of this
increased prosperity was due to the
Franco-Prussian War, which brought
about a great demand for coal. Miners,
in the days of the "big wages" often re-
ferred to by veterans of the coal mines,
had more money than they ever had,
and not a few invested their extra
money in house property.

It has often been said that, when a

new pit has been sunk, the minors'
houses have been thrown down any old
way near the pit. But this was not so
at Cowdenbeath, on account of the fact
that the village lined very important
main roadways. Vacant spaces in High
Street began to be filled up and extra
houses were built in Union Street (Gar-
diner's Land) and Halley's Row. By
1870, Cowdenbeath had begun to be
recognised as a centre, but it was a long
time before the inhabitants got over the
habit of looking upon Dunfermline as
their shopping centre.

Every Saturday the wives used to go
to the Old Station (then the only one)

History of Cowdenbeath

and ask " a ticket for the toon," and the
clerk knew well that " toon " meant
Dunfermline. Shops, however, started
to spring up, mostly owned by natives
of the village.

Seventy Years Ago

OLD LADY DESCRIBES HIGH STREET.

An old Cowdenbeath lady, who was
born near the site of the present Town
House, recalls the general lay out of
High Street, the only principal street in
1870. Opposite her birthplace was the
Diamond Row, so called because of the
small diamond shaped slates on the
roof. Foulford Street did not then
exist, and two houses had to be knocked
down to make the entrance when that
street was formed. At the North end
of High Street there was a licensed
grocer's shop owned by Mr Robert
Crawford, and there was nothing
further North with the exception of Mr
Ewan's property at Cressy Burn. Fur-
ther down, at the present Co-operative
Fruit Shop, was a little row of houses
known locally as " Clapperbum." Mr
Kinninmonth had a shop here, and next
door to it was Mr Wilson's tailor shop.
Not far away was the house of Mr
Kinnell, who was for many years the
street scavenger, whose wife, Betty, was
a very industrious body and reared
"braw" pigs. It was also here that John
McArthur had the first butcher's shop.
Nearby was the smith, Mr Lindsay,
whose daughters had a baby linen shop
for many years.

INVENTED MOTOR CAR.

Mr Lindsay was succeeded by Robert
Cook, who in the early nineties took a
great interest in the possibility of a
motor car. He always maintained he
could make a car on rubber tyres to go
at a speed of at least twenty miles per
hour, but his great difficulty was the
law then existing that a man with a red
flag had to walk in front of any
mechanically driven vehicle.

WELL KNOWN FAMILIES-

Miss Murray had the Foulford Arms,
previously owned by Mr Christie, whose

Mr A. Cavipbell

brother had a baker shop almost next
door. Above the shop lived a well-
known Cowdenbeath family by the
name of Penman. Mr Penman was a
prominent mining man, and was em-
ployed in sinking local pits. He spent
his last days in the Station Hotel. Pitten-
weem. Further South stood the Com-
mercial Hotel, owned in these days by
Mr Sneddon, who sold the hotel to Mr
Alexander Campbell, senior. In Union
Street the principal parties were Mr
James Paul, the father of Councillor
John Paul, who came from Kelty; fur-
ther down was a small dairy owned by
relatives of Mr Gardiner, who built
Gardiner's Hall; further down there was
the grocer's shop of Mr John Car-
michael. who used to know his custo-
mers as "the wife wi'.the white shawl"
or "the wife wi' the red hat"' and such
titles were entered in his business book.
Not far away was a house belonging to
the Davidson family, who later removed
to Union Street, when the different
families occupied all of Davidson's
Buildings.

' Beyond the railway bridge were
several small buildings owned by Mr
Shand, and on that site was built the
present Gothenburg Public House.
These small buildings were used for
housing stores during the building of
the Cowdenbeath to Perth railway.

History of Cowdenbeath

Next door was the building for many
years' associated with the name of Mr
Peter Mcintosh, one of Cowdenbeath's
early tailors, while nearby was the pro-
perty of Mr Glass, a painter. John was
the son-in-law of the late Mr James
Kirk, contractor, and while he never
entered public life he was one of the
town's strongest critics on social affairs.
In this vicinity was the photographer's
studio belonging to Mr Burt. This
building served a double purpose at one
time, as it was here that the members
of the Baptist Church met during the
time their church in Chapel Street was
beine erected. Mr Gardener from Dun-
fermline ? ic bad a studio here, but the
best known was Mr Andrew Roxburgh,
who was another very severe critic of
the actions of the Town Council about
the beginning of the present century.

The Pollock family settled down on
the North side of the level crossing.
The most outstanding member of the
family was the mother, who for many
years carried on business in second-hand
furniture. She had several sons who
carried on business — one as a barber,
another a painter, and one was a
builder, while a daughter (Mrs Greig)
was widely known as the proprietrix
of a temperance hotel and caterer at
nearly all the local "balls" and public
functions. Then there was the collierv
level crossing, with green fields beyond.
Then there was nothing until the col-
liery offices were reached, and then
came Gardiner's property and Gardin-
er's Hall, of which more later. Meikle's
licensed grocer's shop came next. Here
Mr James Fortune (later Bailie Fortune)
served his apprenticeship before he took
over the shop in the North End of the
town. Meikle's shoo was later taken
over by Archibald Hodge, who was an
underground manager in No. 3 Pit. The
original Cowdenbeath Inn adjoined
these premises, but had been converted
into dwelling-houses, which were after-
wards taken over by Mr George Bicker-
ton and converted into a tailor's and
draper's shop. Cowdenbeath Coal Com-
pany's works, shops and stables adjoined
and then came Cowdenbeath Station.

On the other side of High Street was
the Cowdenbeath Inn and the old toll-
house. This was one of the latest in
the country to stop collecting tolls.
Mr McArthur, the butcher, used to re-
late that it used to cost him eightpence

to get a cart load of " draff " for his
cows from Auchtertool or the Grange
Distillery, as he had to pass this toll-
house and also the tollhouse at Beverkae
on the road, both going and coming.

Mrs Wilson, of Foulford Road, who
died many years ago, used to relate that
relatives of hers used to be in charge of
the Cowdenbeath Tollhouse, and that a
certain young farmer with a good horse
used to jump over the gate. This toll-
house became the barber's shop of a
local personality, Jimmy Murray.

The first property at the South end of
High Street was Thomson's buildings,
which accommodated the first Post
Office, with Mr A. Thomson as post-
master.

EARLY POSTAL FACILITIES.

Previous to this, the letters for Cow-
denbeath were delivered from Loch-
gelly Post Office by a postman named
John Malcolm,. who used to wait until a
certain time before he collected letters
from the village to take back with him
to Lochgelly. His daily round was a
long one, extending all the way from
Luchgelly. and included all Cowden-
beath and Lumphinnans and the sur-
rounding farm houses.

HOW COWDENBEATH GOT POST OFFICE.

As the village grew there was a strong
demand for a post office at Cowden-
beath, and the reply to the demand was
that this could not be granted until a
certain amount of mail was despatched
from Cowdenbeath. The amount of
business required to get the post office
established was stated in the official
correspondence. Then a subterfuge
was resorted to to satisfy the Post Office
authorities during a test week. The
amount of business went up by a very
large extent within the next few weeks,
and the Post Office authorities were
satisfied that a post office was justified,
and Archie Thomson was appointed
Postmaster. If the Post Office authori-
ties of that time had placed a censorship
on the letters sent out from Cowden-
beath they would have received a shock,
as many of the envelopes contained only
pieces of used blotting paper and some
of the parcels contained nothing more
than firewood. Many Cowdenbeath
people during the test 'weeks suddenly

History of Cowdenbeath

remembered receiving letters to which
they had not replied, and many were in

the following lines : — " Dear ,

Just a few lines to let you know we are
trying our best to get a Post Office at
Cowdenbeath." After all, the outlay
was worth the extra stamps, and Cow-
denbeath got a Post Office sooner than
they otherwise would have done: Mr
Thomson's father was a shopkeeper
who, after a short time at the Australian
Gold Mines, returned and became the
country postman, his round being the
delivery of letters to the various farms.
Eight houses of the Oakley Raws in
this vicinity were later demolished to
make way for the new Co-operative
Store building erected in 1891. One of
the four small houses near Paul Place
was occupied by the parents of Mr
Andrew Wilson, who subsequently
became Provost of the Burgh. The;*e
were two small houses on the South side
of the level crossing called the " High
Blocks " although they were single
storey in height. The Masonic Arms of
to-day was The Vaults public-housa,
owned by John Nicol. Further on to
the North resided the well-known Rbllo
family, a daughter of which family
married James Laing, who became
second Provost of the town. Then came
the Diamond Row already mentioned,
where the Blarney family resided. One
of the sons, Thomas, became one of the
most prominent social workers in the
County of Fife and was Provost of the
Burgh.

BIRTHPLACE OF SIR HECTOR HETHERINGTON.

It will be noticed in this description
of High Street seventy years ago that
there were no banks and no chemists'
or watchmakers' shops. The first
chemist's shop was opened as a branch
shop by Mr Dow of Kinross, and the
first manager was Mr Hetherington, one
of whose sons is Sir Hector Hethering-
ton. Principal of Glasgow University,
and who was born in a house in Broad
Street.

There were two doctors in the town.
Dr Mungall and Dr Nelson, and patients
had to go to Lochgelly for medicine.
Simple remedies, such as castor oil,
Epsom salts, etc.. could be obtained from
the numerous " wee shops " in the town.

The doctors, too, always had supplies
of these simple remedies and other

medicines, which they gave to the
miners and their families.

POPULATION DOUBLED.

After 1870 the population, which was
then 1,500, continued to increase rapidly,
and actually doubled in the next twenty
years. During this period wages of
miners fell to about an average of 3/-
per day, but gradually improved until
they reached the much discussed basic
rate of 4/- in 1888.

UNEMPLOYMENT UNKNOWN.

There was always plenty of work and
unemployment was unknown. Gradu-
ally, the town took a form and shape
not so much by the making of new
streets as the filling up of the gaps in
the existing streets. A few houses
appeared on either side of Foulford
Road near the quarry. There is a story
to the effect that a father and sons
started to build a house there on a Mon-
day morning and had it practically
ready for occupation by the end of the
week. Stones for the house were taken
from Foulford Quarry. Building was
very cheap, but sites in High Street
became more valuable as the demand
for business premises increased.

COWDENBEATH CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.

Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society
were amongst the first to foresee the
advantage of erecting modern business
premises. Dunfermline Co-operative
Society had a branch at Cowdenbeath,
but a few co-operative enthusiasts
thought that the time had come to have
an independent store in Cowdenbeath,
and negotiations were entered into with
Dunfermline Co-operative Society to
take over their branch, and in 1875
Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society was
established in that property now belong-
ing to the firm of Peter Brand, Limited.
The first President was one of a well-
known Cowdenbeath family, Mr
William Davidson, and Mr Alexander
Birrell was the first salesman. In 1878
Mr William Paxton was appointed head
grocery salesman. He was a personality
in the town, and much of the success
of the Society at that time was due to
his untiring service. The Society pros-
pered, and at the end of 1890 it was

History of Cowdenbeath

considered that larger premises were
necessary to cope with increased
business and, accordingly, new buildings
were erected on the other side of the
street in 1892. The opening ceremony

two employees received a gold watch
from the firm on completing 50 years'
service.

Previous to this. Mr George Bickerton
had opened a draper s shop in the town

Mr Davidson

Mr Cowan .

was performed by Provost Henry Mun-
gall.

Since that time, however, the Co-op-
erative Society gradually prospered, and
to-day it is one of the largest Co-oper-
ative Societies in the country.

FIFTY YEARS' SERVICE.

In 1873 the late Mr John Forrest
opened a small tailor's shop at the North
end of the town on the site of a wood
store presently owned by Mr J. B.
Armstrong. Later he removed to the
present premises in High Street, where
business is still carried on by members
of his family. Old John was a person-
ality in the town, and he was the proud
possessor of the first tricycle in the
district. It is a remarkable fact that
two employees each served fifty years
with the firm. One was David Young.
Davie was a personality in the town,
and he had a very pleasant disposition
and was a great favourite. Many are
the stories related about Davie Young.
The other employee was Mr John
Cowan, who is still alive. Each of these

on the site of the original Old Inn, and
further down Mr Gardiner carried on a
draper's business, which was augmented

David Young

History of Cowdenbeath

Mr Simpson

by his country trade. In 1892 Messrs
William Low & Co. opened their branch
shop in the town in a shop later taken
over by the Cowdenbeath Co-operative
Society, and the first manager was Mr
James Stormonth, who took a great
interest in the social life of the town as
a member of the Golf Club and the
Reading Room at the Level Crossing.
This was followed by the ] opening of
a branch of Dick's Co-operative Society.
Limited, in Gardiner's property across
the street. The number of shops rapidly
increased. Mr Barclay opened a shop
in High Street, which was later taken
over by Mr D. O. Duff from Dunferm-
line. Before this, Mr J. A. R. Finlay. a
native of Kinross, had opened a tailors-
shop next door. Mr Finlay also took .'
great interest in public affairs. He was
a very keen sportsman — golf in the
summer and curling in the winter. By
this time, Mr Archibald Gieig had
opened an ironmonger's shop near the
level crossing, while one of the early
grocer's shops was a branch of
Alexander's from Kirkintilloch. Long
before the close of the Nineteenth cen-
tury there were shops of every kind in
the town and the trek to " the toon "
for messages became a thing of the past.
Mr T. Yule had also opened a chemist's
shop, and Mr J. Moodie Brown had
established a watchmaker's business in
High Street. The town had always a
good service of newsagents from the
days of " Hairry " Younger in School
Street and Mr James Westwater in
Broad Street.

One of the early grocer's shops in the
early 'nineties was that owned by the
Beveridge Brothers, known locally as

" The Busy Bees." They were Alex-
ander, Tom and Walter, men who did
a great service in the musical and
religious life of the town. By the end
of the century, vacant sites in the High
Street were being bought up at high
prices and, in many instances, private
dwellings were taken down and shops
took their place. Not a little of the de-
mand for shop accommodation was
caused by the revelation in 1896 that
there was a deficit of £6453 in the Co-op-
erative Society, and it was not until June
1898 that the confidence of the members
was restored, but by this time the
private shop owners had had an oppor-
tunity of establishing themselves.

Until 1890 the social services had
been looked after by the Fife County
Council through Beath Parochial Board
and the Heritors of Beath, but the rapid
increase of the population demanded a
much better state of affairs than
existed.

DRUNK EVERY NIGHT. C

One winter night. Augustine Birreli.
then Member for West Fife, had
occasion to come to his constituency
with his legal agent. He came in a
cab. and in High Street lie asked his
agent what place they wore in. On
being told it was Cowdenbeath, lie
remarked that if he stayed in a place
like that he would get drunk every
night. If Cowdenbeath appeared so bad
to him through the windows of a cab.
what about the position of the inhabit-
ants who had to feel their way through
muddy streets in the dark. The side-
walks were only marked off from the
street by the kerb and channel, and
were even in a worse condition than the
main roads.

MUD AND STOOR.

There were two seasons in the year,
one when there was mud and the other
when there was " stoor." It was not a
rare thing to see a foot passenger leave
behind him or her a shoe on 'the side-
walk and had to hop back to retrieve
it or wait until some kindly disposed
person retrieved it.

Shops and houses, churches and halls,
were lit by paraffin lamps, and moon-
light came as a welcome blessing, for at
other times the primitive lighting only

History of Cowdenbeath

made the darkness visible. It was a
stay-at-home village to a very large
extent, for there was no train from
Dunfermline after nine o'clock.

PENNY READINGS, ADMISSION 6d.

The inhabitants had to cater for their
own amusement for a long time after
the formation of the Burgh. In the
'seventies and 'eighties Gardiner's Hall
proved an attraction for a few. The
hall, situated behind the present shop
occupied by Harrison, Tailors, was a
very small building erected by Mr
Gardiner, a draper, but it had to be large
enough for the annual " balls," and not
only did the small building accommo-
date the dancers, but provided room for
the fiddler and even a small place set
aside for refreshments. Then on Satur-
day nights the hall was used for the
weekly "Penny Readings," when local
singers and concert parties from Dun-
fermline supplied the programme. The
price of admission to the Penny
Readings was sixpence. There were
several men who took turns to act as
chairman, including the Rev. Mr Hogg,
his successor, the Rev. A. C. McPhail
of Beath Church, the Rev. Mr Johnman
and the Rev. Mr Anderson of the Free
Church, the first church in the town
situated in Factory Road. On one
occasion a local comedian was singing
a song about Noah when the chairman,
a minister, intervened, saying that he
respected Noah too much to allow him
to be the subject of a comic song at a
concert over which he presided. Among
those who took part in. the Readings
were different members of the Davidson
family, Mr George Terris, Miss Paul and
Mr John Beattie. Later, Mr John
Brunton built Brunton's Hall, and the
town had visits from travelling concert
and theatrical companies. Among these
were Maggie Morton's Concert Com-
pany and Rushbury's Company, ^ with
the evergreen '* Alone in London."

Periodically a " Geggy " or portable
theatre came to the North End of the
Town and had a run of several months.
Among these were Pierce and Bolton,
J. Bell, and lastly, J. Fyffe, whose son,
Will, often figured as an actor, but
always in the laughable farce which
concluded each night's entertainment.
The prices of admission were threepence
and sixpence.

Will Fyffe, the well-known character
comedian, often pays a visit to the town
to renew the friendships he made in his
boyhood days. Among those friends
stand out Mr and Mrs Alexander Camp-
bell of the Commercial Hotel.

Bailie Duncan.

EARLY CINEMA.

The last portable theatre at the North
End was a cinema belonging to Mr John
Slora, whose sons now own the Arcade
Cinema. In the days long before the
" Talkies," Mr Slora had his own stage
effects, such as the galloping of horses,
a strong wind, or thunder, which were
supplied from the side very dramatic-
ally by Mr Slora, who later rose to the
position of Bailie of the town. Mr Slora
was the gentleman who brought the
cinema to stay at Cowdenbeath. In
1892 the Co-operative Hall was built,
and soon after that the Arcade Hall was
erected. Yearly concerts were organ-
ised by Mr Andrew Lindsay, headmaster
Cowdenbeath School, the Choral Union,
Cowdenbeath Minstrels and the Reading
Room. . . ,

In the late 'eighties the North British
Railway Company commenced to lay
down the Perth Railway and Cowden-
beath had a large increase of workmen
of the navvy type, and this introduced
the "model" lodging-houses into the
town and the " navvy " remained where

\.f •

History of Cowdenbeath

■I

there was plenty of work for them in
the development of the town. The rail-
way was completed .in 1889, and the
memorial stone in the bridge over High
Street was laid with Masonic honours
in April of that year by Mr Archibald
Hodge. That stone is to be seen to-day,
and though it is in a prominent place in
the bridge, very few know of its exist-
ence. A few years later the branch
railway from Cowdenbeath to Kirkcaldy
was made. It took several years to
complete, and it provided work for the
navvies who had made Cowdenbeath
their headquarters.

BEATH PAROCHIAL BOARD.

By this time, however, Cowdenbeath
had been formed into a Burgh. In the
Autumn of 1890 Beath Parochial Board,
who looked after such things as water
and a few minor services in the town,
had been perturbed about the lack of
social services in the village, which had
now a population of over three
thousand. They met in the house of Mr
John McArthur, butcher. They met in
his best room, and not only did John
give them the room, but generally at the
close of each meeting he supplied the
refreshments that gave the meetings a
social atmosphere. Among those who
met there were Mr Mungall, Mr Barclay.
Mr Fortune, Mr Paul. Mr Laing and Mr
Innes. John himself did not take part
in these meetings as he knew his own
weakness, that of being a " contar "
man, and he might have interrupted the
business too often. However, his con-
trariness was merely superficial, for he
was known to have a very kindly and
generous nature though always looked
upon by those who knew him to be
very strict in discipline and an upholder
of respect to the older generation and
those in authority.

The members of the Board resolved
that the time had come to form Cowden-
beath into a Burgh. John immediately
opposed the proposal. Of course, no one
was surprised at his opposition, for
which he later gave reasons, but when
the petition to be presented to the
Sheriff asking for the change over to a
town council was posted in the colliery
office window, John's name was first on
the list of petitioners. He was chaffed
about his change of front, but his com-

panions knew that
coaxed him over.

Mr Mungall had

John McArthur.

John had no wish for public life, and
though he allowed his name to go
forward as a candidate at the first
election ho took every opportunity to
advise the electors to vote for better
men than he was. It was not surpris-
ing, therefore, that he was not returned
as successful. Neither was the non-
return of Mr Archibald Hodge a sur-
prise. The latter made very few public
speeches, but one is handed down as h
typical example of the man. It was an
election address and was as follows: —
" Well, if ye pit me in I'll be pleased,
but if ye dinna want me and dinna pit
me in I'll be better pleased."

PETITION FOR TOWN COUNCIL.

There was little difficulty in getting
the Town Council formed. The petition
was first heard by the Sheriff at Cupar
and then at Cowdenbeath (which name
had been chosen in preference to Foul-

History oj Cowdenbeath

ford), and was proved to be a " populous
place with more than seven hundred
inhabitants." Then in Brunton's Hall
on 24th November, 1890, in the presence
of Sheriff Gillespie it was agreed to
form the Town Council with nine mem-
bers. Michael Reilly testified that he
had delivered the bills calling the meet-
ing, and copies of the "Dunfermline
Press" and "Dunfermline Journal"

with the advertisements calling the
meeting were produced. The fust
election took place in Brunton's Hall
and there were twenty-two candidates,
and the successful ones were: — Henry
Mungall, 244; James Laing, 204; Andrew
Wilson, 177; Robert Ferguson. 171;
James Innes, 158; Charles Barclay. 143;
David Anderson, 139; James Fortune.
136; and John Paul, 129.

First Town ComtciL

George Terris.

TOWN COUNCIL FORMED.

The Council met for the first time on
15th January 1891, and after they
appointed Mr Mungall as Provost.
Messrs James Laing and James Fortune
as Bailies. Mr George Terris was
appointed Clerk and the meeting was
adjourned.

PROVOSTS AND TERMS OF OFFICE.

Mr Mungall continued to be Provost
of the Burgh until 1902. Mr Mungall
was followed by the following gentle-
men as Provosts: —

Mr James Laing 1902-1905.

Mr Andrew Wilson 1905-1908.

Mr Charles Barclay 1908-1911.

Mr Robert Marshall 1911-1914,

Mr David Keir ... 1914-1917.

Mr George Penman 1917-1920.

Mr James Russell 1920-1927.

Mr Thomas Blarney 1927-1930.

Mr John King 1930-1933.

Mr D. E. Walker 1933-1936..

Dr J. B. Primmer... 1936-1939.

Mr John Young 1939-

History of Cowdenbeath

HONOURS TO GO ROUND.

In the early years of his membership
of the Council, a motion was submitted
by Mr David Keir and carried, to the
effect that municipal honours should go
round, and it will be seen that, after
Mr Mungall, no Provost, with the ex-
ception of Mr James Russell — who held
office for seven years — occupied the
chair for more than three years.

COWDENBEATH PROVOSTS.

Provost Marshall.

The Provosts were drawn from all
classes of the community. Mr Henry
Mungall was chairman of the Cowden-
beath Coal Company and afterwards of
the Fife Coal Company, and was largely
responsible for the initial development
of the coalfield in the West of Fife. Mr
James Laing was originally a colliery
surface worker and subsequently con-
ducted a grocer's business in High
Street. Mr Andrew Wilson was a suc-
cessful builder and contractor, and was
responsible for the erection of a very
large number of buildings in the Burgh
and neighbourhood. Mr Charles Barclay
carried on a successful joiner's business
in the Burgh. Mr John Marshall was
originally a railway signalman and
afterwards became Secretary of Cow-
denbeath Co-operative Society. .Mr

David Keir for many years conducted a
successful boot and shoe business in the
Burgh. Mr George Penman was origin-
ally a miner and subsequently became
the proprietor of the Masonic Arms
public-house, where he conducted a
large business for many years. Mr
James Russell was a miner and took a
great interest in everything concerned
with the welfare of the mining com-
munity. He was a lifelong abstainer
and took an active and keen interest in
temperance work throughout his life. Mi-
Thomas Blamev was also a miner. For

Provost Keir.

some time he was chairman of the Fife,
Clackmannan and Kinross Miners'
Union, and from his early years has
taken a very active interest in industrial
and social matters. He has been Con-
vener of the Public Health Committee
of Fife County Council since the passing
of the Local Government (Scotland)
Act 1929. Mr John King was a eheck-
weighman and was for many years
chairman of the Board of Management
of Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society,
and did much for the success of that
Society. Mr David E. Walker is a
fruiterer and confectioner, and has con-
ducted a successful business in the
Burgh for many years. Dr John B.
Primmer conducted a large medical
practice in the Burgh since 1902, and
retired from active practice in 1939. Dr

(

History of Cowdenbeath

Provost King.

Primmer is a son of the Rev. Jacob"
Primmer of Townhill, whose Con-
venticles were so well known through-
out the country during the end of last
century. Provost Young was originally
connected with the farming industry,
but since he came to Cowdenbeath many
years ago has been associated in a num-
ber of business enterprises in the Burgh.
The first meeting of the Town Council
v/as held in Thomson's Hall, which was
on the site of the present Co-operative
Society's premises in High Street.

RATES THREEPENCE PER POUND-

The first business was the discussion
about assessments to pay for the cost of
the election and other estimated expen-
diture for the current half-year. The
assessment agreed upon was 3d in the £.
as this was expected to bring the sum of
£90.

Mr Terris was also appointed Col-
lector with a commission of 3fc%, and
Mr Fortune was appointed Honorary
Treasurer. At a later meeting the salary
of the Town Clerk with his many other
duties was fixed at £15 per year.

TOWN POO BAH.

The Council must have been finan-
cially minded, for they right away en-
quired about a Police Court and what
cases could be tried there. First they
had to get a Fiscal, and they got the
services of that very handy man, the
school janitor, Campbell Halkett, who
took on this work along with his many
other duties. Later, the Council got Mr
Halkett to take on the position of Sani-
tary Inspector as well. For this job he

Provost Russell.

was given £2 per year, with a special
financial inducement to get prosecutions
in connection with the Sanitary Laws.
The fines for the month of April 1891
amounted to £4:5/-.

The Commissioners appointed a scav-
enger, but discovering that they could
not hire a horse and cart for the whole
week they hired them for two days in
each week.

They ^were a very observant body.
For instance, they reported a Police
Officer — very likely the only one — to the
Chief Constable for neglect" of duty, and
graciously recommended, when the
Chief Constable had found him guilty,
that nothing further be done. Then
they had to call upon their Sanitary In-
spector to tell him that they expected
periodical reports for the sum they were
paying him. They then agreed to tell
proprietors to remove the "filth" from
the front of their houses and told house-
holders that they must not throw
"filthy" water on the street.

The newly formed Town Council were
not long in being aware of the tremen-
dous task they had taken in hand to put
the village into " a decent state of
repair " to bring it up to the standard
one naturally expects from a burgh.
They were faced with the very poor
housing conditions and the almost lack
of social services. Being a purely
mining village, the houses were to a
very large extent built in *' miners'
raws," and a very large number of the
inhabitants of to-day need not be re-
minded of the very poor facilities for
comfort they provided. In most
instances they were of the " but and
ben " order, with one door- In many
instances, too, they had stone floors

History of Cowdenbeath

which, in the present days, makes one
almost shudder at the thought of it.
The only outside sanitary convenience
was a dry " closet," which served for
several families. There was no coal
house, and the coal had to be placed
below one of the kitchen beds, and room
had to be left for the small keg of gun
powder — the only explosive used in con-
nection with the miners work, and
which he had to purchase from his
scanty earnings. Water had to be drawn
from the street well and stored in two
pails in a recess in the wall between the
outside and inside doors— a very con-
venient place for the cats and dogs to
satiate their thirst. There was very
little incentive for cleanliness. A bath-
room was unthought of, and in below
a bed reposed the family wash tub,
which was brought out daily after " the
men " had their dinner, and there, in the
middle of the kitchen floor, the miners
washed themselves to their own discom-
fort and that of the whole household.
The mess that was the result of the daily
wash had to be cleaned up, and then
followed the laying out to dry in front
of the kitchen fire of the miners' wet
clothes, so that they would be in a con-
dition to wear for the next day's work
One can very well understand the lack
of comforts under these conditions if
there were more than one miner in the
house, and especially if they were on
different shifts. The children of the
miners were brought up under these
conditions, and one cannot be surprised
to hear that many of the miners sought
the comfort of the local public-house
when their scanty pays afforded this
way of forgetting their troubles. On the
other side of the domestic affairs, one
must have had great sympathy with the
miners' wives, especially when one
takes into consideration that miners'
families generally averaged five, and
there were very often ten and over.
Conditions were bad under normal cir-
cumstances, which meant that in a
miner's but and ben there had to be four
beds, and the family were fortunate if
no bed in the house had to accommodate
more than two. One can well imagine
what happened when sickness invaded
the home or, worse still, when a fatal
accident brought grief and mourning
into the house. The present generation
must feel horrified to be told on very
many occasions the dead body of a

miner lying in his coffin had to be
removed from a bed at night to allow
the inmates the use of the bed. While
this state of affairs not only existed at
Cowdenbeath but in every mining dis-
trict in Fife, it gives an indication of
what Cowdenbeath Town Council had
to face.

One regrettable feature was that it
was understood that this was the con-
ditions set down for the miners, and
anything more comfortable would be
looked upon as revolutionary and un-
heard of. This idea seemed to possess
the members of the Town Council in
these days, and several years after-
wards, when the first Labour Coun-
cillor was returned to the Council by
co-option, he made a motion that the
Coal Company be forced to install a
water closet to each four tenants in their
property in High Street. The Provost,
who was chairman of the Company, got
very annoyed over the proposal. He
stated that that would ruin the CoaL
Company and, after all, it would be such
a waste of good water. His expression
of that opinion no doubt went a long
way towards the result of the vote,
which was that two voted in favour of
the motion. When that Councillor
retired at the end of the next year he
was defeated and graced the bottom of
the poll. The ca' canny policy was
having its effect in these days-

By this time, however, the private
builder was making his presence felt in
the town, and many *' taen " houses had
water closets introduced. Baths, how-
ever, were only confined to a few lucky
families, and it was not until the adop-
tion of the Town Council Housing
Schemes that a bath was not considered
a luxury.

Another problem that faced them was
the sewage question. When they took
office there were no sewage works at all.
The drains emptied themselves into the
stream that runs through the centre of
the town and eventually enters Loch
Gelly

This state of affaire could not last
forever, for they were continually
reminded by Board of Health and
other interested parties, especially the
ground proprietors on the banks of the
stream. They put off the evil day for
many years, until at last they had no
alternative but take the matter in hand.
Sewage works had to be put down and,

History of Cotodenbeath

on the assurance of a well-known
mining man (a member of the Town
Council), that the place they had
selected was a safe site, the plant was
laid down. Changes in the officials of
the Coal Company were effected a short
time afterwards, and the verbal assur-
ances that the coal would never be
wrought below that site proved worth-
less The plant began to break up from
the effect of underground workings
there, and soon the Town Council were
left with the relics of their costly plant.
This was a great blow to the com-
munity, as while the sewage works were
a complete wreck, the Council were still
paying interest on borrowed capital and
repaying instalments on the loan of the
principal amount, and did so until
recently, and the sewage again had to
be diverted in its crude state to Loch-
gelly Loch. They simply could not face
the additional expenditure for new
sewage works, and, despite the constant
reminders and claims for damages, they
again put off the evil day until several
years ago, when the present new plant
was laid down. This time they made no
mistake about the safety of the site,
but bought out the coal underneath.
They then very wisely took other pre-
cautions, including the laying down of
a plant that could deal with double the
sewage that passes through it, and thus
provided for any large increase in the
population. As the plant was to last
for many years, the Town Council were
determined to have the very latest, and
it was only after visiting the very latest
types that they decided to adopt the most
recent— that of the activated sludge
principle which had then been intro-
duced in Scotland and was only in oper-
ation at one place and had been proved
to be a great success. Work was com-
menced as soon as possible, and the
plant was opened in October 1932.

A BURNING QUESTION.

A few years after the formation of the
Town Council a new problem arose,
namely, the question of a domestic
water supply, which was brought about
by the rapid increase of the population.

Long before the burgh was formed,
the only water supply was from springs.
One such spring was at the North End
of the High Street, and it was from this
spring that the inhabitants over a large

area had to take their water, and this
provided domestic duties for the
younger members of the families.
Beath Parochial Board tackled the
question of a water supply by pipes
throughout the main streets from a
source in the present Public Park, and a
water house was erected — a building
that is now used as a tool house. There
was an opening ceremony, at which a
few men still alive were present, when,
they remember, it was stated that they
had got a supply sufficient for their
needs Alas! that did not even prove
sufficient for the needs of the village
during the life-time of the Parochial
Board, and in 1887 the present Roscobie
site was acquired and a reservoir laid
out there, when it was again thought
the village was provided for for all
time-
When the Town Council took office in
1890 there was no need to doubt that
statement, and surplus water was sup-
plied to the village of Hill of Beath.
However, so rapidly did the population
increase that, before the end of the
century, it was found necessary to
enlarge the reservoir at Roscobie. This
was completed in 1901, and again the
forecast was made that Cowdenbeath
had enough water for all time.

Again that proved to be wrong, for
not many years had elapsed when the
water scarcity arose again, and the sup-
ply from Roscobie had to be augmented
by water taken from Dalbeath Pit.
Though this supply was helpful, the
water was very hard and unsuitable for
washing purposes, and the housewives
complained bitterly. At one period of
acute scarcity it is recorded that Dr
Craig, who was then Medical Officer of
Health, had actually used a bottle of
lemonade one morning to wash his face.
The solution of the problem came in
sight when, in 1911, the Town Council
purchased from Dunfermline District
Committee of Fife County Council their
limited right to take water from Loch
Glow. The Town Council then sot
negotiations on foot for the complete
control by them of the water rights in
the Loch, but these negotiations were
orotracted over several years. In 1918
the Town Council promoted a Pro-
visional Order to secure complete con-
trol of the water in the Loch. This was
strongly opposed by landowners in the
vicinity of the Loch and by mill owners.

History of Cowdenbeath

on the banks of the River Leven. The
Town Council, under the able guidance
of Mr R. T. Milne, Town Clerk, put up a
very strong case and were in every way
successful in carrying through the
Order. Since that time there has been
an abundant supply of water, and there
is sufficient reserve in the Loch to meet
with all demands likely to arise for
many years to come.

Mr Milne.

There were other questions to be
tackled that meant large outlays and
borrowing of large sums. There was
the lighting of the town. Previous to
the formation of the Burgh the High
Street was lit by a few paraffin lamps,
which were provided, equipped and
maintained by voluntary means, princi-
pal being the financial returns from the
Penny Readings. This fund was admin-
istered by a small committee of whom
Mr Hodge was secretary, treasurer and
superviser.

Then Cowdenbeath Gas Company was
formed, of which more is told later in
this history of the Burgh, and Cowden-
beath Town Council were quite pleased
to allow that body to light their main
streets. When it is remembered that the
population of the Burgh when it was
formed was only approximately 3000,
and when the principal election cry was
" Economy," one is not surprised to

know that several schemes were delayed
as long as possible. These included the
building of a slaughterhouse, the erec-
tion of new Council Chambers, street
making, general road repair and pave-
ment laying. The last-mentioned came
as a great boon, and there is no doubt
that this greatly enhanced the popu-
larity of Cowdenbeath as a centre, and
the shopkeepers reaped the benefit. By
this time the ratepayers had fully real-
ised that the early years following the
formation of a Burgh were years of
great outlay, but here at Cowdenbeath
there was the redeeming feature that
the town was growing by leaps and
bounds and the increased rental kept
taxation within reasonable bounds.
Encouraged by this, the Town Council
commenced to make up leaway in the
.matters that were behind in the way of
social services.

Cowdenbeath jo Years Ago

CHICAGO OF FIFE.

A great deal of progress was made in
the Nineties, during which time Bailie
Laing at a public meeting referred to
the town as the Chicago of Fife, so
rapidly was it extending. Streets must
have great lv improved, too, for he stated
that the Hiqh Street was beginning to
resemble Princes Street, Edinburgh.
This caused a great laugh in the hall
Still in time. High Street was put right
with granolithic pavement. More
visitors began to arrive in the town from
the country to have the pleasure of
walking on our pavement, which was
something of a treat.

CHURCHES ERECTED.

Two other churches came into exist-
enco _thc Guthrie Church in High
Street and the Cairns U.P. Church in
Church Street. A few years later a
Chapel of Ease was erected in Natal
Place. This church was constituted as
a Quod Sacra Church, and is now the
West Parish Church.

History of Cowdenbeath

West Parish Church.

MORE COAL PITS.

With the sinking of Mossbeath Pit,
houses began to appear in Broad Street,
Moss-side Road, Chapel Street and Park
Avenue, and the population rose to over
ten thousand. The Raith Pits continued
to send out large supplies of coal, as did
the "evergreen" No. 7 Pit in the centre
of the Burgh. The Gordon Pit was sunk,
and Foulford Pit output was supple-
mented by the sinking of No. 9 Pit.

RISE IN LICENSED PREMISES.

With the rapid rise in the population,
and the growing popularity of Cowden-
beath as a centre, there was a great rush
for public-house premises. The Old Inn
was soon joined by the Commercial
Hotel (Mr A. Campbell), the Crown
Hotel (Mr T. Bernard), Foulford Arms

(Mr Mitchell), Raith Arms (Mr Goidie
Kerr, who later became a Town Coun-
cillor), and The Vaults, owned for a long
time by Mr Nicol, were taken over by
Mr George Penman, who subsequently
became Provost of the Burgh. He
greatly extended the premises and
called them the Masonic Arms. At every
Licensing Court there were continual
heated arguments between Dunfermline
lawyers and ministers of religion for and
against the licences. Mr A. Shand got a
licence for the present Gothenburg pre-
mises, and many were refused.

STREET LIGHTING.

The lighting of the town was still in a
backward state. Paraffin lamps were
discarded for coal gas, then followed,
carbide gas, which was sold at a pro*
hibitive price. The first to try gas was

History of Cowdenbeath

Mr Alexander, a grocer in High Street,
who fitted up a small plant in his back-
shop, and thus lit up his own shop and
a street lamp which he placed on the
edge of the pavement. Matters in the
way of lighting got worse when a small
privately-owned gas plant at the rear of
High Street was the scene of an explo-
sion. The present Cowdenbeath Gas
Company took the matter in hand, and
they have ever since looked after the
manufacture of gas for the town.

The Town Council missed a grand
chance at that time to take over that
plant. It is stated on good authority
that at a Council Meeting a proposal to
buy the privately-owned gas plant was
rejected, in the belief that the Police
Commissioners would eventually get the
plant for nothing. However, Cowden-
beath Gas Company carried on, and the
chance was lost.

Later, Cowdenbeath Town Council
put down an electric lighting plant of
their own for street lighting purposes,
and when Provost Mungall pulled down
a switch, saying, " let there be light,"
the dismal street lighting was a thing
of the past.

NEW STREETS FOLLOW PROSPERITY.

With the twentieth century the popu-
lation increased, and Stenhouse Street
took shape with many other side streets.
Foulford School and Beath R.C. Primary
were erected. At the same time there
also sprung up a large number of other
churches of the Plymouth Brethren type
known as Church of God. Church of
Christ, Close Brethren, Open Brethren,
etc., who occupied various halls in the
town, and they all exist to this day.

HOUSING SCHEME DISCUSSED IN 1914.

Just before the commencement of the
Great War in 1914 the Town Council
had a scheme for the building of muni-
cipal houses which was strongly spon-
sored by Bailie Blarney, but the War
put an end to the project for the time
being. In 1919, however, the Council
commenced to tackle the housing prob-
lem, and they have now erected 720 new
houses and have plans in hand for the
erection of several hundreds more.

FUTURE FOR THE TOWN.

There is a future for Cowdenbeath,
and that is because it has become the
centre of the mining industry of West
Fife.

The Fife Coal Company helped con-
siderably when they made Cowdenbeath
their headquarters, providing employ-
ment for several hundred additional
workers.

OVERCROWDING.

The Town Council were faced with
many other problems- The rising popu-
lation demanded much in the way of
improvement of social and other ser-
vices. In 1911, when the population was
at its highest, overcrowding had for
some years been presenting the Council
with a serious problem. Some idea of
the extent of overcrowding mav be
realised when it is stated that the Town
Council have erected more than 720 new
houses, it is estimated that thre«-tM» four
hundred more are still requh/ed. and
that the population is now 4bout 2000
less than it was about thirty*years ago.

Mr J. Paton, Workshops Manager.

Winners of Summer League.

History of Cowdenbeath

Interior View of

It is also an educational centre, having
within its boundaries Beath Secondary
School, the Fife Mining School and
Beath R.C. High School, which last
serves the whole of Fife. Had the town
been able to have induced the Fife
Miners' Union to have made Cowden-
beath their headquarters it would cer-
tainly have strengthened the strong
claim of Cowdenbeath to be the hub
of the West Fife coal trade.

DARK DAYS.

Cowdenbeath, like other towns, has
had its critical periods. The black
period of the Great War had just passed
when the mining counties were upset by
industrial dispute commencing with the
prolonged miners' strike of 1921. Cow-
denbeath, being the centre of the West
Fife mining industry, was soon in the
throes of the struggle. The beginning
of the struggle was associated with
regreattable scenes in the town, no
doubt exaggerated as they were carried
to different parts of the country, and
then followed month of privation when
many families lost their savings which
of this dispute were still having their
took them years to collect. The result
of this dispute was still having its effect
on the municipal life of the town when
along came the protracted strike of 1926.
and the inhabitants, most of whom are
miners, had to undergo another long
spell of endurance that considerably
hampered the work of the Town Coun-
cil. These unfortunate industrial dis-
putes seriously affected the civic life of
the town, as it did the whole of the
coal industry of the country, but
Cowdenbeath has passed through its

Central Workshop

critical period and there are bright days
ahead. ' The time must come when the
town will receive its rightful share of
the heavy industries, which the coal
industry of the district justifies, and
which the Government have to a very
large extent, if not altogether, neglected
or withheld. With the abolition of
overcrowding and the gradual reduction
of the burden of loans, we will have a
town which will stand as a monument
to our legislators and our private
citizens, who have sacrificed so much
for its prosperity.

NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

Up to the end of last century the
Council Chambers had been in Waverley
Rooms in School Street, but in 1902 the
present spacious premises in High Street
were opened,

Among the public and private bodies
and organisations which have carried
on social and other work in the Burgh,
mention may be made of the follow-
ing: —

BEATH PARISH COUNCIL.

In parochial affairs Beath Parish
Council has always played a prominent
part in the history of Cowdenbeath.
After the passing of the Poor Law Act
the relief of the poor was entrusted to
the Parochial Board, and in October
1845 we find Mr John Curror of Nether-
town was appointed the first Inspector of
Poor for the Parish of Beath at a salary
of £7 per annum. For that he had to dis-
tribute relief to the poor of the Parish
and keep a correct account of all sums
paid and disbursed by him. He had an-

History of Cowdenbeath

extra £2 per year as collector of assess-
ments. It was fortunate that there
were no buses in these days or he would
have been out of pocket in travelling
expenses in connection with these
duties. He only performed these duties
for one year, however, as he died in
1846, and his son, Peter Curror, was
appointed to take up his father's work.
At the end of another year, however,
Mr Thomas Scott, who was Parochial
Schoolmaster at Cantsdam, Kelty, was
appointed to the position. Mr Scott was
also appointed Registrar of Births,
Marriages and Deaths. In 1857 the
position of Inspector of Poor was given
to Mr James Brand, a teacher in Cow-
denbeath Colliery School. That gentle-
man must have been held in high
esteem in the Parish for we find that
when he left to take up the position of
Inspector of Poor at Abbotshall, Kirk-
caldy, in 1865, there was a special
reference to his good work in the
Minutes. It refers to his efficiency as
Inspector of Poor and to his courteous
treatment to that class of people " who
will be ever with us." There were three
candidates for the vacant position. One
was Mr James Terris, father of the late
Town Clerk and Parish Clerk, and he
received more votes than the other two
candidates combined. The salary was
now £30 per annum. With the new
appointment there was a change not
enjoyed by the Cowdenbeath poor, for
they now" had to travel to Oak field.
Kelty. to get their relief. An old
Cowdenbeath lady, who died quite
recently, related how she had to walk
there and back every week for 3/6 per
week which she received after her
husband had been killed in a colliery
accident at Cowdenbeath.

Other Inspectors of Poor since then
have been Mr George Terris, Mr James
Terris. his son, and the present in office.
Mr Alexander Baxter.

As a Parish Council Beath has had :.
hectic career. From the days of very
meagre allowances to the poor there was
a gradual inclination to pay much
better rates. The standard rates laidv
down by the supervising Authority were
never high enough to please the mem-
bers of the Parochial Board and the
Parish Council, and there was always
trouble between the Council and the
supervising Authority. The Council
allowances were never below the scales

set down, and on many occasions they
exceeded them, and there were repeat-
edly threats to surcharge the members.
This threat did not strike fear into the
hearts of the members and they success-
fully defied the supervising Authority.
Beath Parish Council came into prom-
inence as being one of the most liberal
Parish Councils in Scotland in the
treatment of the poor. The Parochial
Board and the Parish Councils arc now
relics of the past and their functions
are performed by the Public Assistance
Committee of the County Council.

'Education

TWO SCHOOLS.

In the early days of Cowdenbeath
there were two schools set up by the
Colliery owners. One was that belong-
ing to "the Lochgelly Iron & Coal Com-
pany, and was specially erected for the
education of the children of their work-
men employed at Raith Colliery. That
school was "made by the taking away of
walls between two of the five houses in
School Row. situated just outside the
present Burgh boundary. In this
building Mr Geddes looked after the
education of the boys, and in an extra
room erected at the rear Miss Syme.
from Lochgelly. looked after the educa-
tion of the" girls. Miss Syme had often
the assistance of her sister from Lm-h-
gelly. and though only the three R's.
were supposed to be taught, the unpaid
services of the younger Miss Syme were
often used to teach the young girls sow-
ing. The other school for the Cowden-
beath children was situated in Broad
Street, almost exactly opposite the
present Broad Street School. This. too.
consisted of two houses, a but-and-ben.
made into one. Here the teacher was
Mr David Dundas Brown, and no doubt
the school was commenced by the
Oakley Iron & Coal Company, though
the schools were known respectively as
the Raith School and Cowdenbeath
School.

KDUCATION 1/2 PER WEEK.

The schools were not confined to the
children of colliery workers, as children
of other workers "and of the few shop-
owners wore admitted to either school,
but every Monday morning each one in

History of Cowdenbeath

this category had to bring along one
shilling and twopence. Quite a number
of the oldest persons in the town got
their education in one of these two
schools.

BROAD STREET SCHOOL.

This state of affairs existed until 1876
when the newly appointed School Board
took over the education of the children
and were responsible for the erection of
the first part of the present Broad Street
School. A year previous to the change
over Mr Geddes had left the Raith
School, and Mr John Craigie, a certifi-
cated teacher, succeeded him, and came
to the new school with his pupils on
February 14th, 1876. The infant depart-
men under Miss Syme came as a
separate school and remained a separate
school until the retirement of Miss
Syme in 1903. At the same time, the
children from the Cowdenbeath School
went to the new building, but there is
no record of what happened to' their
teacher, Mr David Dundas Brown. On
the day the school was opened there
were two members of the School Board
present, Dr Mungall, a colliery doctor,
and his brother, Henry Mungall, after-
wards Provost of the Burgh. The next
day the school was examined by a school
inspector, Mr Hugh Wilson. In Mr
Craigie's department the assistant was
Mr McDougal, while there were three
pupil teachers, John Miller, James Paul
and Christina Danks. The pupils
appeared to number 121 and were
taught in two rooms. John Miller was
the son of Mr Miller, the builder, and
James Paul was the son of the late Mr
John Paul, plasterer. In April of the
next year Mr Craigie received the
appointment of Government Inspector
of Schools, and the new headmaster was
Mr Andrew Lindsay, who had been
assistant to Mr Scott of the Parochial
School at Cantsdam. Mr Lindsay re-
tired in 1911, having completed thirty-
four years as headmaster. The number
of scholars when he retired was over
1400 and the school had been twice
enlarged. It was enlarged again after
a disastrous fire of 1929, when nearly all
the school was destroyed, giving the
school mottp, " Little by little," a double
meaning. Mr Allan was headmaster
until 1913, when the present head-
master, Mr Wm. M. Fortune, a pupil of

the school, was appointed headmaster.

When Miss Syme took over the Infant
Department of the new school she had
also over a hundred pupils under her
charge. She had, as assistant, Miss
Watters, with Miss Cooper as sewing
mistress. A few months later Miss
Annie Penman was appointed as an
assistant. The first School Exhibition
was held in 1876, and among the relics
treasured by a Cowdenbeath old lady is
a book won as a prize for sewing and
cutting out a shape. Miss Syme retired
in June, 1903, and her successor, Miss
Jude, commenced duties, but not as a
headmistress in charge of an infant
school but headmistress of the infant
department under Mr Lindsay. Other
headmistresses who have been in the
school are Miss Jamieson, Miss Menzies
and the present Miss Forbes. A teacher
with a very long record of service, now
retired, is Miss Currall.

Foulford School was erected to cope
with the large increase in the school
population, and this was followed soon
afterwards by the R.C. Primary School.
The passing of the Education Act, 1910.
was responsible for the erection of Beath
Secondary School aad, before the war,
there was a demand for a school at
Moss-side, but the building was delayed
until after the end of the war. The
erection of the R.C. High School came

Jenny Lee

History of Cowdenbeath

)

• i

Mr J. M. Masterton, a prominent educa-
tionist and Secretary of the Earl
Haig Fund. Committee.

later, and the conversion of Moss-side
School into a post-qualifying centre for
girls was made a few years ago.

FREE BOOKS INTRODUCED.

Previous to the abolition of Beath
School Board in 1919 that Board aroused
considerable local and national interest
by the adoption of the principle of " free
books" in 1911. and later they com-
mended a school for " backward '
children, known as a Special School, in
1916. The schools in the area are now
under the control of the Education Com-
mittee of Fife County Council. During
the School Board days a prominent
chairman was Mr James Terns of
Dullomuir, Blairadam, and commemor-
ation tablets to his memory are in
Beath Secondary School and the Public
School at Kolty.

FIFE MINING SCHOOL AND DR PARKER.

The Fife Mining School, which stands
on Broad Street and Moss-side Road, is
a monument to the work of Principal
Joseph Parker, D.Sc. Born of humble
parents in the West of Scotland, he left
the day school at 12 years of age to work
in the mines, but later he commenced
to study at Hamillon Academy while
working during the day, and overcom-
ing all obstacles he gained his colliery

manager's certificate at the age of 26.
He was manager at Allenton Colliery,
and then came to Fife to be the manager
of Cardenden Colliery. It was then he
had his first acquaintance with the Fife
Mining School, Cowdenbeath, which, at
the time, only occupied two rooms in
Broad Street School.

Still anxious for more learning, he
attended Dunfermline High School,
where he gained his Higher Leaving
Certificate, and then he took courses at
the Heriot-Watt College and Edinburgh
University. During this time he con-
tinued as a teacher at the Fife Mining
School, a student during the day and a
teacher in the evening. At last he
realised his great ambition when he
became Principal of the Fife Mining
School. Pressing for more accommoda-
tion, he got the school transferred to

Dr Parker

the basement of Beath Secondary
School. Still he was not satisfied, and
again putting forward the claims of the
school he was successful in having the
present commodious school erected.

Mine ventilation was his pet subject,
because he fully realised the great
danger to miners employed in mines
wheVe different kinds of gases are
encountered. He studied this subject
rigorously and when he had mastered it
he submitted a thesis to the University of
Edinburgh and was awarded the Degree
of Doctor of Science. This, as can be
seen, is not a mere empty title, because
the subject was closely allied to his
work, but Mr Parker set little import-
ance on the designation of Doctor. He
looked upon as his greatest reward the
knowledge that he had done something

History of Cowdenbeath

in the interest of that huge body of men
who take their lives in their hands when
they go to work in a coal mine, and
whose service to the community and the
country he keenly appreciated.

A very large number of his pupils
occupy prominent positions in the
mining world to-day.

During the Great War the strong
appeal for the training of girls and
young women as munition workers
found a ready response in Principal
Parker, and after months of sweeping
aside the obstructions of officialdom he
collected as much machinery as would
enable him to make a start. With no
thought of monetary reward he com-
menced the training of the girls, who
gradually were fully trained and were
accepted in munition works all over the
country.

He also turned his attention to the
formation of a company of the Mech-
anical Transport Section of the Army
Service Corps. He got his recruits from
his students, and after borrowing and
buying old cars he set to work to
instruct the students in the driving and
repair of motor cars.

He was again very successful, and at
last a complete company of trained men
were accepted by the military author-
ities and were sent to the headquarters
in London.

As a mining lecturer he was always
in great demand. His passing in
October 1939 was a great loss to the
community.

AMBULANCE WAGGON
ASSOCIATION.

One public body which has performed
very useful work to the community is
Cowdenbeath Ambulance Waggon Asso-
ciation. In the early days of coal
mining one very regrettable feature was
the absence of a suitable vehicle for the
transport of the sick and injured. This
was particularly so on the occasion of a
miner being injured at work, when a
cart was the only means of having him
conveyed home, rough travelling being
only mitigated to a very small extent
by a layer of straw. Ihis state of affairs
came to an end in 1903 when the Cow-
denbeath Public House Society Limited
presented the town with a horse-drawn
ambulance. About this time also the
Fife Coal Company introduced a better

John W. Beveridge

system for the removal of injured
miners. The lighting of the public
ambulance was by means of batteries,
which were so heavy that there was
always a danger of the vehicle getting
out of control on the Halbeath Hill, and
the route taken to and from Dunferm-
line Hospital was by Dhuloch. This
vehicle served for eighteen years. Mi-
David Arthur was first secretary of the
Ambulance Waggon Association formed
on the presentation of the waggon, and
Mr James Inncs. who followed him in
that capacity nine years later, served for
twelve years. The first motor ambul-
ance waggon was presented to the Asso-
ciation after the War. It came as a gift
from the Ex-Service Men. each of whom
could direct the sum of five shillings to
any object they liked from the accumu-
lated profits of the war canteen fund.
A local gentleman prepared sheets for
signature and was responsible for them
being signed by the Ex-Service Men,
asking that their respective five shillings
should be given to a fund for the
purchase of the ambulance. The forma
presentation was made by Principal
Joseph Parker of the Fife Mining
School, and it was accepted by the
present secretary. Mr John Beveridge
This machine outlived its usefulness and
another was purchased at the cost of

History oi Cowdenbeath

i ,

£546, of which cost the Miners' Welfare
Fund contributed £250. The work of
the ambulance waggon has greatly
increased since the days of the horse-
drawn vehicle. In the last year of that
vehicle 55 cases were attended to, 4 of
which were taken to Edinburgh Infirm-
ary. During the last financial year 1346
cases were attended to, and there were
187 journeys to Edinburgh. As the work
increased so also has the income
increased and, while the income in 1915
was £86 : 15 : 0. last year it was
£862 : 9 : 3.

The present secretary, Mr J. W.
Beveridge, has held that post since 1921,
and during his long term of office he has
performed a faithful service to the town.
The duties of the office have been
numerous and at times very trying, but
he has unflinchingly carried on, earning
the appreciation and esteem of the town
and the often silent thanks of a large
section of the community who were
unfortunate enough to require the use
of the ambulance. Like his Committee,
he has always observed a progressive
policy which has exceeded the hopes of
the founders.

Two other persons deserve words of
gratitude for their part in the work of
the Ambulance Waggon Association: Mi-
Archibald Hodge, treasurer for twenty
years, and Miss Hodge, treasurer for
nine years. Miss Hodge was persuaded
to accept an illuminated address on her
retiral, and Mr Hodge unwillingly
accepted a piece of silver plate, suitably
inscribed.

The Association now own their own
garage, board room and office.

COWDENBEATH GAS
LIMITED.

COMPANY.

There are two of the social services
of the town which impress as being of .■
very satisfactory standard, namely,
lighting and the water supply. In con-
nection with the former the history of
street lighting has been remarkable.
Before the formation of the Burgh, and
for the first few years after, street light-
ing was of a primitive nature and, in
fact, when it was introduced it was
carried out on a voluntary basis, and the
village had to depend on the musical
abilities and generosity of a few persons
to provide the lamps and keep them
burning. It was gradually felt that

something should be done to get some
form of lighting of the main street, and
a local committee was formed to see to
it. They decided on a scheme of con-
certs which were called Penny Readings
and were held in the original Colliery
School in Broad Street. The result of
those weekly concerts was that a small
number of lamps were obtained and
these kept lighted, except on moonlight
nights.

The Cowdenbeath Gas Company,
Limited, was formed and registered on
7th August, 1891, the objects being:—
" To supply the town of Cowdenbeath
with Oil Gas, or other illuminant for
lighting or other purposes; to purchase
the Oil Gas Works there, and plant,
pipes, etc., belonging to William
Alexander, merchant, Cowdenbeath, and
to extend and develop the same, as may
be found expedient, and generally to
carry on the businesses of Gas Manu-
facture and Merchants in all depart-
ments in the said town or elsewhere."

The Oil Gasworks purchased from
William Alexander were situated at the
bottom of the present Burgh Road, and
the new Company extended the plant
and main pipes and commenced a
supply of Gas.

John Boswell was the first Chairman,
and George Terris. Clerk to the then
Police Commissioners, was appointed
Secretary.

The story of the Company during the
first ten years was one of faith, hope
and tragedy.

Oil Gas was manufactured, and in
1894 the Cowdenbeath Police Commis-
sioners had 12 street lamps in High
Street, which were supplied at a price
of 10/3d per lamp per year.

The Gas Manager received 12/- per
week for his labour, later increased to
15/- per week.

It was a part-time job, as the records
show that the Police Commissioners
complained about his working at night
and " on the Lord's Day," whereby he
was considered not capable of attending
to his work for them.

About 1896 the Company became
agents for incandescent gas burners, and
their first order was for three dozen
burners and one dozen spare mantles.

Costs of production and difficulties
with the plant became serious with the
price of gas at 12/- per. 1000 cubic feet.
About June 1898 the Company became

History of Cowdenbeath

v i

interested in the manufacture of
Acetylene Gas in preference to Oil Gas,
and it was decided upon the advice
given that this new gas would enable
them to regain stability and the plant
was installed.

For a while it was a great success as
a light and was referred to as the " light
par excellence " and " the Queen of
Lights." It was found, however, that
the gas was costing 15/- per 1000 cubic
feet to make, and out of twenty
thousand feet made they lost ten
thousand feet.

Difficulties with the supplies of
calcium developed, and after failure of
the gas supply for two days the derelict
Oil Gas Plant was again brought into
use.

Troubles continued, complaints about
price and quality were common, and a
report and plans were obtained from
Hubert Pooley, Gas Manager, Dunferm-
line, with the object of putting down a
coal gas plant. This did not develop
because of the lack of further capital.

Suggestions were made that the Police
Commissioners might take over the
business in June, 1899, but no action
was taken.

In 1900, George Terris, Secretary of
the Company, wrote to himself as Clerk
to the Police Commissioners (now called
the Town Council) offering the Council
the whole plant and rights for £500, but
no action was taken.

On 20th August, 1900, an explosion
and fire destroyed the plant, which was
insured for £100, and the sum of £96
was accepted in settlement.

The Town Council were again asked
to take over the business, and pending
their consideration, other people who
had greater confidence in the success of
a gas supply in the town became
interested, purchased the shares of the
Company and set about to develop the
business.

The new Directors, headed by James
Hutton, gas meter manufacturer, Edin-
burgh, decided to manufacture coal gas
and erect a complete new gasworks on
a site at the east end of Elgin Road and
lay new pipes throughout the town.

They appointed Mr J. B. Scott their
new Engineer and Manager early in
1901, the erection of the new works was
proceeded with and a supply of gas was
once more made available to the town
early in December, 1901.

Mr Scott.

The price of gas, the facilities offered
by the Company in providing free ser-
vices, the introduction of the penny slot
meter, and cooking appliances on easy
hire terms, afforded every householder
the benefits of gas for lighting, cooking
and heating. The result of this popular
development was successful and pro-
gress was rapid.

In 1904 the inhabitants of Kelty made
a request for the Cowdenbeath Gas
Company, Limited, to extend a gas
supply to Kelty district, but this pro-
posal was not proceeded with, and
ultimately Kelty interests formed a Gas
Company and erected works of their
own.

In 1906 the Lumphinnans Public-
House Society, Limited, decided to pro-
vide street lighting in Lumphinnans
village, as one form of their social
betterment schemes, and the Gas Com-
pany laid main pipes through the
village.

The lamps were operated by a patent
apparatus from the Gasworks for
several years, this being the first install-
ation of its kind in Scotland.

In 1910 the Company extended its
supply to the householders in Crossgates
and Fordell districts.

During 1914 a high pressure supply
pipe was extended from Crossgates to
Aberdour.

History of Cowdenbeath

'i<

Just previous to the Great War
Cowdenbeath Town Council made' i
strong bid to acquire the Gas under-
taking. They adopted the Gas Supply
Act, but during the. War the Council
were not allowed to borrow money for
the purpose, and this Order operated for
several years afterwards. By this time
the price of the undertaking had risen
to a prohibitive price.

In passing it might not be out of place
to record that one progressive spirit in
the Town Council, speaking at a public
function in the Burgh, suggested that
the town should now extend its bound-
aries to include Aberdour, now that the
Gas Company had paved the way.

Up to this time the progressive
development of the Company had been
rapid and had exceeded the expecta-
tions of the Directors when they set out
in 1900.

During 1920-21, by arrangement with
the Fife Coal Company, Limited, the
Gas Company installed a Gas Supply to
all their houses in Lumphinnans, Kirk-
ford, Hill of Beath, and within the
Burgh, much to the benefit of the
occupants.

Progress has been maintained during
the intervening years, notwithstanding
the introduction of electricity as a com-
petitor.

The Housing Schemes developed by
the Town Council and County Council
have been provided with a gas supply
and, to meet the increasing demands,
the Company's manufacturing plant has
been extended from time to time, and
they possess an up-to-date works cap-
able of meeting greatly increased
demands.

It may be of interest to state that the
Gas Company are one of the largest
ratepayers in the Burgh, paying a sum
equal to approximately 10% of the
Burgh rates.

In 1919 Mr J. B. Scott died and was
succeeded by his eldest son, Mr Jas. J.
Scott, who is the present Engineer,
Manager and Secretary.

Much of the success of the Company
was due to the energy and enterprise
of Mr J. B. Scott. He was one of the
foremost gas engineers of his day, and
his work for the Gas Industry in Scot-
land was appreciated and recognised by
the industry.

On the death of Mr George Terris he
was succeeded by his son, Mr James A.
Terris, as secretary until his retirement
in 1931.

Mr James Hutton, chairman, died in
1923, and to his courage, guidance and
foresight the Company owes much of
its success.

He was succeeded by the present
chairman, Mr J. Miller Thomson.

In the meantime, as stated previously,
the Town Council introduced electric
lighting for their streets, and despite
great inconvenience through damage to
their cables by underground workings,
gradually improved the system until
now the street lighting is among the
best in the country.

as*

Mr McAughey, First Burgh Foreman

CHURCHES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES.

The first church, Kirk of Beath, though
it is not actually in the Burgh, has
already been dealt with. As the village
grew, there were naturally a number of
" seceeders," and there was a demand for
a church to suit their faith. The first
church then was the Free Church, built

History of Cowdenbeath

in 1862 in Factory Road, and the build-
ing is now used as a blacksmith's shop.
Mr Johnmann, a young man, was the
first to be put in charge of the congre-
gation, and he was followed after a few
years by the Rev. Andrew Anderson. It
was not a wealthy congregation by any
-means, and the minister and the con-
gregation had often a difficult task to
get as much money as give the minister
little more than a bare existence. There
was no manse for some time, but later
the congregation erected the present
manse in Broad Street. The next
minister was the Rev. James Muir, and
during his ministry the present Guthrie
Free Church was erected in High Street.
Soon afterwards the present Cairns U.P.
Church was built in Church Street, and
some time later the Baptist Church in
Chapel Street.

The ministers of all the churches were
very popular, and the services and bible
classes and Sunday schools were very
well attended.

In the Guthrie Church, Mr Muir was
followed in order by the Rev. Thomas
Mitchell, the Rev. J. G. Dawson Scott,
the Rev. John Wood, the Rev. Thomas
Weir, the Rev. George Baird and the
Rev. Dr G. B. Burnet.

Mr Gilmour.

The Rev. Mr Gilmour was first minis-
ter of the Cairns U.P. Church, and
although he received many tempting

offers from other churches he remained
in Cowdenbeath for very many years
before he accepted a call to Gateshead.
He was succeeded in order by the Rev.
J. J. Munro, the Rev. Alex. Stewart, the
Rev. J. Salmond and the Rev. R. Douglas
Potter.

Rev. J. J. Munro.

The Rev. J. Munro was the first minis-
ter of the Baptist Church. Ho was
followed by the Rev. — HendtM-son.
who was followed by the Rev. J.
Bennet. under whose ministry the
Church was considerably extended. He
was followed in order by the Rev. J. B.
Frame, the Rev. T. J. Harvey. Rev. A.
McKenzie. Rev. J. E. Watson. Rev. E. II.
Grant, Rev. James Duff. Rev. Thomas
McCIure and the Rev. F. Morris
Carpenter.

Beath Church at Kirk of Beath always
remained a favourite, especially among
the older people of the Parish. For
many years the Rev. John Sinclair was
a prominent personage in the religious
life of the town, and while he upheld
the dignity of his profession, he im-
parted into it the lovable nature and the
other beautiful traits one likes to associ-
ate with such a calling.

History of Cowdenbeath

Following the formation of the Burgh
there arose a desire on the part of a
number of the members of Beath
Church congregation to have a place of
worship inside the town, and this took
practical shape when, in 1894, a petition
was drawn up to have a Chapel of Ease
erected at Cowdenbeath. The matter
was taken up jointly by the Presbyteries
of Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy, and
eventually at a meeting held at Cowden-
beath in July 1894 it was decided to
build a church. The following trustees
were appointed : —Mr D. O. Duff, Mr A.
R Dick, Mr Andrew Wilson, Mr Sydney
Binning and Mr Millar, Auchtertool,
and the church was designed to serve
Cowdenbeath and Little Raith. The
Rev. Mr Sinclair of Beath and the Rev.
Mr Stevenson of Auchtertool were ap-
pointed Joint Conveners of the Commit-
tee in charge of the matter-

considerable number of the members
were of the opinion that Mr Aitken
would carry on as minister of the new
church, but when they went to the
forenoon service they found the church
door locked. Mr Aitken addressed them
at the door, and stated that he could do
nothing as far as that service was con-
cerned, but he asked them to come back
in the afternoon. Again they found the
church door locked, but they took the
matter into their own hands and forced
an entrance, and Mr Aitken preached to
a crowded church.

He never preached in the church
again, and shortly afterwards he accep-
ted a call to a charge in -the West of
Scotland.

The Rev. John Henderson was after-
wards appointed and inducted as first

Rev. J. Muir

Before this, a mission was being
carried on in Brunton's Hall, the pulpit
supply of which was under the direction
of the Rev. Mr Sinclair. At the time of
the completion of the new church in
1897, the Rev. J. Aitken was in charge
of the mission. The first Sunday after
the church was completed was a memor-
able one in the history of the church. A

Rev. J. W. Emslie.

History of Cowdenbeath

minister of the charge. He was suc-
ceeded in order by the Rev. Jas. Francis,
the Rev. Robert Muir, the Rev. John
Emslie, the Rev. John McMorland, the
Rev. A. McKenzie, the Rev. T. McAus-
lane and the present minister, the Rev.
R. H. Porter.

There is no Episcopalian Church in the
Burgh, but there are several Episco-
palians who attend St Finian's Episco-
palian Church in Lumphinnans Road.

The Salvation Army, whose hall is at
the corner of Stenhouse Street and Hall
Street, has been in the Burgh ever since
its formation, and they have carried on
in good times and bad their work among
the poor classes of the town.

Rev. R. H. Porter

PRINCIPAL OF BAPTIST CHURCH.

A prominent church dignitary associ-
ated with Cowdenbeath passed away a
year ago in the person of the Rev. Archi-
bald McCaig, the Principal of the Baptist
Church College in London. Mr McCaig
was one of a few enthusiasts who were
responsible for the beginning of the
Baptist Church at Cowdenbeath. While
at Cowdenbeath, he married Miss
Orrock, sister of Mr James Orrock, who
was for many years a carting contractor
in the town. After leaving Cowden-
beath, he always kept up a close con-
nection with the town which he knew
so well as a village, and a few years ago

Mr McCaig.

he paid a visit and was the guest of
Bailie Blarney. .

Many years ago two evangelistic com-
panies of different creeds used to meet
every night at the junction of High
Street and Broad Street and, at about
twenty-five yards apart, told their audi-
ences how they should be converted
according to their respective creeds. The
two companies gradually drew nearer
each other, and this resulted in a com-
petition of lung power between the dif-
ferent orators. One night the audiences
got mixed up and a number of heated
debates ensued between the opposing
evangelists. Matters looked very bad
until the Salvation Army, who used to
meet close by and were waiting to start
their meeting, entered the " arena," and
the Captain implored all parties to stop
their squabble and " not give the game
away." This the large crowd greatly
enjoyed, and the appeal must have had
its effect, for both parties never returned
and the Salvation Army thereafter got
the pitch to themselves.

The Union of the Free Church and the
United Presbyterian Church into the
United Free Church was accepted very
quietly in Cowdenbeath, but the subse-
quent Union of the Church of Scotland
and the United Free Church was not
accepted so quietly. A number of the
objectors formed themselves into what

History of Cowdenbeath

was at first known as the United Free
Continuing Church, which has now re-
verted to the United Free Church of
Scotland, and its members now worship
in Wardlaw Street in a building which
was previously a stable.

There is also a church in Perth Road
originally provided by the Home Mission
Committee of the United Free Church,
to serve the needs of Lumphinnans and
the surrounding district. The first
minister of this church was the Rev.
Angus Macdonald, whose ministry ex-
tended from 1902 to 1937. Mr Macdon-
ald was succeeded by the present minis-
ter, the Rev. Alexander Hutchison.

The Roman Catholic Church in Sten-
house Street was erected in 1921, largely
by the efforts of Father O'Brien, who
was the priest then in charge. Before
the erection of this church the services
were held in the Roman Catholic
Primary School in Stenhouse Street.
Associated with this church there may
be specially mentioned the names of
Father Mclntyre, Father O'Brien, Father
Green, Father McQuire (now a bishop)
and Father Kenny.

In addition to the above churches,
there are several smaller places of public
worship for meetings of inhabitants
who hold different beli^ Among them
may be mentioned the Church of Christ
and the Christian Union in Broad Street,
the Church of God in Bridge Street,
with other meeting places in Natal Place
and Victoria Rooms, High Street, and
the Spiritualist Association in Waverley
Rooms, School Street. There is also a
Gospel Mission in Union Street presided
over by Mr Streets, through whose
efforts a modern building was erected in
1938.

TEMPERANCE.

In the early nineties when public-
house and hotel accommodation was
greatly extended, temperance work
flourished, and there were three Good
Templar Lodges. There was the original
Lodge, The Anchor of Hope, in which
there were three enthusiasts— the late
Provost Russell, Provost Blarney and Mr
W. J. Holman (now resident in Wales).
Next followed the Gordon Lodge, in
which a leading spirit was Mr Ferguson.
The third was the Waverley Lodge, m
which prominent members were Mr
James Barclay (now the Rev. James

Mr W. J. Holman

Rev, James Barclay

Barclay), Mr F. J. Robertson, Mr T.
McAughey, Miss Mary Tulloch and Miss
Mary Laing. These lodges met weekly,
and a large number of men now in
public life owe their lessons in public
speaking to the debates held in lodge
rooms. It is a strange coincidence that
these lodges only nourished when
public-house trade was also very strong,

History of Cowdenbeath

and with the reduction in the consump-
tion of intoxicants the Good Templar
Lodges gradually went out of existence.
The Rechabites and Sons of Temperance
have still carried on, owing to some
extent to the fact that they are Friendly
Societies and distribute sick and other
benefits.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATION.

The Y.M.C.A. was first started at Cow-
denbeath approximately fifty years ago.
The members were not numerically
strong, but they were enthusiastic,
though they did not have the same
opportunities for activities as the
Y.M.C.A. affords to-day. They met
every Sunday morning in a room in
Cowdenbeath Public School when, after
opening with prayer and a hymn or
psalm, a member gave a "paper" on an
interesting and generally topical sub-
ject. The membership numbered about
a dozen, and the meeting always finished
in time for the members to go to their
respective churches at a quarter past
eleven. The leading members were
Miss Masterton, sister of Mr Masterton,
late of Foulford School; Miss Roe, Miss
Currall, sewing mistress in Cowdenbeath
School; Mr Tern Beveridge and his
brother Walter, and Mr Joseph Holman,
now in charge of Foyers Church, Inver-
ness.

For a long time the Y.M.C.A. lay
dormant until it was revived about
twenty years ago, when the Association
acquired a billiard saloon and house in
No. 7 Pit' Road. They were quite suc-
cessful in their various activities till
these were cut short by the outbreak of
the war, when their premises were
taken over for a First-aid Post. They
are now occupying temporary rooms in
High Street. The members set to and
not only made these rooms suitable for
their meeting place but have also
installed there a canteen for members
of the Forces.

Sport

EARLY STRUGGLES.

FOOTBALL.

Though Cowdenbeath was once re-
ferred to — and quite correctly— as a
town of sportsmen, they have only

reached prominence in one section of
sport, and that, as is generally known,
is football. In this sport there is only
one competition from which they have
never brought distinction to the town
and that is the Scottish Cup, for in one
season they finished up with a worthy
position in .the First Division of the
League table. Honours in the Scottish
Cup have always evaded them, and
sportsmen as they are, bad luck and
misfortune has attributed to their failure
on at least two occasions. In 1880 there
were at least two junior teams in the
village — Cowdenbeath Rangers and
Cowdenbeath Thistle — while a third was
in existence for a few years at a later
date: Moss Rovers. The original team
was the Rangers, and their origin makes
very interesting reading. In the
seventies, three families came to reside
at Cowdenbeath from Ayrshire • —
Dougarys, Pollocks and Fergusons — and
have remained there ever since. In one
family especially, that of Pollock, there
was a number of sons who were keen
football players, and of these sons two
were very clever on the ball. It is a
strange feature that all these teams
nourished in the South end of the
village. The Thistle played near Thistle
Street and the Moss Rovers played near
the Moss Houses, and the Rangers
played in the Jubilee Park.

Mrs Pollock.

History of CowderJbeath

• I

By this time there were several senior
teams in the county, including the
strong-going Lassodie and Burntisland,
Raith Rovers, Kelty and Lochgelly
Athletic (which became Lochgelly
United). It was thus apparent that Cow-
denbeath, to get a place in the football
of the county, had to follow suit, and a
combination of the Thistle and Rangers
brought this about. It was thus possible
to get together such players as Paterson
(goalkeeper), J. Dougary, J. Drummond
(backs), Bob Law and Lee (half-backs),
and the following forwards: John and
James Pollock, the Geddes brothers,
Gray, and the Lister brothers. There
were many reserve players, and the sec-
retary was John Miller, a miner, who
occupied that position for at least three
years before the secretarial work was
taken over by John Bolton, son of the
Cowdenbeath Stationmaster, who now
lives in retirement in Dunfermline.

A junior team was formed a few years
later called St Leonards, and they played
on a pitch in Moss-side Road near the
present Guthrie Church manse. This
club provided several outstanding
players for Cowdenbeath.

The new senior team soon made a

James Pollock.

name for themselves, as we find two
years later they won the Fife Cup after
participating in the final of the Fife
Consolation Cup. They made up their

minds to do better the next year, and
were successful in winning the County
Cup, and two of their victories were
against the very strong Burntisland
Club and their keen rivals, Dunfermline

Dauid Pollock.

Club, whom they defeated in the final
by two goals to nothing.

The Club set their minds then on
bigger things, and two years later were
in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup,
but, alas! at Cambuslang they went out
of the competition.

PLAYERS PAW TO PLAY.

The want of finances was a serious
drawback to the struggling club. The
weekly wages of the team could not
be blamed for that, as they not only
played for nothing but they actually
paid so much a week as members of the
club. They were the playing members,
but there were others who also were
paying and non-playing members.

MORE MISFORTUNES.

Often when playing in a cup tie some
distance from Cowdenbeath there was a
struggle to raise the necessary money
to buy the railway tickets. John Miller.

Hiswry of Cowdenbeath

the secretary, on one occasion when the
team had to go to Renton, could not raise
the amount and, as had been his custom,
appealed to the stationmaster to get the
tickets without immediate payment, but
he got a refusal. There was a hurried
visit to Mr Charles McLean of the Old
Inn, but he reminded Mr Miller that
they had not cleared off the last loan —
and there was nothing doing. The train
was coming in and the disconsolate team
were about to leave the station when
the stationmaster relented, and off they
set for Renton. They were again to be
disappointed, for, after their dinner in
Glasgow, they were informed that the
Scottish Cup tie was off as the pitch was
unplayable. However, they engaged a
brake with the hope that they would yet
get the tie played, but it was definitely
off and they had their journey for
nothing.

Mr David Pollock, referred to in this
article on football, was also one of the
original members of Cowdenbeath
Angling Club.

custody of the Fife Cup. These seasons
were 1888-89, 1889-90, and 1890-91.

A Cowdenbeath veteran who was a
faithful supporter, Davie Pollock,
brother of the two wingers, states that
in his opinion the team who really
brought and kept the Fife Cup in Cow-
denbeath were : — Paterson ; Dougary
and Drummond; Law and Lee, Fitz-
patrick, James Pollock, Cook, A. Geddes,
Robert Geddes and John Pollock.

Paterson was afterwards the station
lorryman, Dougary was killed in a min-
ing accident, Drummond was one of
three football brothers, the others being
George and Tom; Bob Law was one of
the heroes of the Donibristle Disaster,
and John Pollock died a few years ago
in Wales, where he became a brilliant
bowler.

Before the Club removed to the North
End Park there were other notables in
the Cowdenbeath team, and one cannot
forget such prominent players as Willie
Cowan, the iron man, as left back; and
Davie Hughes, who rightly is still looked

Old Coivdenbeath Football Team.

Left to right, back row — H. Geddes, Dow, Hynd, Savage, Law and Thom-
son. Front row — Beveridge, Hughes, A. Geddes. Graham and A. Todd.
Sitting — Weir and Penman.

fife cup champions. upon as the best exponent of football

that ever the county has produced.
Disappointed in the Scottish Cun, they Cowan died a few months ago at Cow-
again set out to be at least champions denbeath, but Davie Hughes had a tragic
of Fife, and we find them for three years death when he was found suffocated at
in succession winning and retaining the the Alice Pit near Cowdenbeath,

History of Cowdenbeath

MORE FIFE SUCCESS — SCOTTISH FAILURES.

Their continued success in the Fife
Cup made them turn their eyes again
to the Scottish Cup, and in the same
year, 1890-91 they had another strong
bid, but though they reached the sixth
round they went down at Paisley by the
decisive score of eight goals to two. For
several years Cowdenbeath Club did
nothing outstanding, but in 1894 they
again came to the front, and though they
had only fair success in the Scottish and
Qualifying Cups, they had a really good
team in: — Lindsay; Allan and Wood;
Paton, Stewart and Nicol; Dryburgh,
Collins, Johnstone, Beveridge and
Mercer.

By 1901 other players had joined the
team, and this photograph, taken at that
time, shows the players to have been as
givn on photograph on previous page.

In the team published, there are
several missing, such as the Pollocks, J.
Dougary. John Drummond, Lee, Fitz-
patrick and Cook.

PROFESSIONALISM COMES ALONG.

Their play was Cowdenbeath's un-
doing to a certain extent, for already
professionalism had entered into the
game, and Cowdenbeath lost a number
of their stars. At this stage the village
postie. Christie, had become secretary,
and he signed on two Hearts players-
Philip and Pringle. Philip for several
years afterwards had a billiard saloon in
the town.

Taking advantage of the bidding for
good players. Cowdenbeath commenced
to be a training school for football
players, and many who trained at the
North End and later at Central Park
were transferred at big transfer fees.

TUF. GREAT WAR.

The Great War in the meantime came
along and interfered with their success
as League champions. By this time
Sandy Paterson had come on the scene
as a manager. Sandy was a Hill of
Beath man with varied experiences as a
player and manager of Hearts of Beath,
and it was under his management that
the team gained their promotion to the
First Division of the Scottish League.
He had the necessary support from Mr
A- R. Dick, a gentleman who had for

Mr A. R Dick.

Mr W. G. Hodge.

many years devoted his energies and
outstanding business ability to the rais-
ing of the standard of the game at Cow-
denbeath. Under his chairmanship the
club flourished, and he became a promi-
nent figure not only in Fife football but

History of Cowdenbeath

among the Scottish legislators. The
game was taken to Central Park, and
with the erection of the large and com-
modious stand and enclosure became
one of the finest equipped and appointed
in Scotland. The war passed, and Cow-
denbeath set their plans to secure
Scottish Cup honours. In the first year
after the war they were on a fair way
for this honour.

In 1921 a new Second Division was
formed, with relegation and promotion.
By this time several stars were in the
team, including Adam Scott Duncan
(now manager of Ipswich Town), Dick
Little, J. R. Smith, Dodds of Celtic fame,
and Bobby Tait.

In season 1923-24 more good players
were picked up to play along with stars.
In the former class were Bill Murray
and Hooky Leonard. Bill is now man-
ager of Sunderland Club and Leonard
had a hectic but brilliant career while it
lasted. Cowdenbeath Club gained pro-
motion, being second to St Johnstone.
Scott Duncan was induced to take over
the manager's position, as Sandy Pater-
son had gone to Dunfermline, where he

raised Dunfermline to the First League
as well. Cowdenbeath carried on in the
First Division for a number of years, but
were again relegated in 1933-34. After
a few years in the Second Dipision, a
bold bid was made in 1939, when they
won the Second Division Championship
with a record pointage, and Walls as
centre established a record in scoring
goals. By this time Mr William Hodge
had been appointed President. Bill
never posed as an authority on the finer
points of football, but he was all the
time out to do his very best for the
team.

Again the war had interfered with
the Club just after gaining success, but
there is no doubt that, after hostilities
cease, the sporting instinct of the town
will again rise and football will again
nourish.

Of all the players born and bred in
the town, the most outstanding has
been "Ally" Venters.

Adam Scott Duncan, a prominent
Rangers' player who became manager
of Cowdenbeath Football Club in its
days of prosperity and is now manager
of "Ipswich Town. He is married to *
well-known Cowdenbeath lady.

Mr John McDougall of Cowdenbeath,
who was disabled in the Great War, and
who reached the final of one-artned
players' Scottish Championship. He is
at present captain of Kinghorn Golf
Club.

History of Cowdenbeath

GOLF. .

Golf followed, when the principal
men interested who played on the first
course of Leuchatsbeath were Dr
Naismith, John Bolton, John A. R.
Finlay, Andrew Lindsay and James
Stormonth. The game obtained a very
strong footing after the new course was
laid down by Cowdenbeath Public-
House Society at the North end of the
town.

CURLING.

Curling was also a favourite sport,
and prominent players were Archie
Hodge. Jimmy Orrock, Andrew Wilson,
John Paul, Charlie Barclay, John
Finlay, etc. A common challenge was
that of Jimmy Orrock that he would
play Archie Hodge for a bag o 1 meal.

CRICKET.

Cricket followed in due course with
enthusiasts like Sydney Binning, the
Beattie brothers, Sandy Rankine, David
Adams, Geordie Syme, Willie Syme and
Sandy Stevenson.

BOWLING.

Bowling is definitely one of the sports
that has come to stay. Cowdenbeath
Bowling Club have a green at Bowling
Green Street, and there is another green
at the rear of the Miners' Welfare Insti-
tute in Broad Street.

Mr G. S. Eastwood, a county cricketer

Sydney Bin?ti7ig.

Mr John Ford
(Cowdenbeath centenarian)

History of Coivdcnbeath

Mr Hohnan
(Chairman of Public-House Society)

COWDENBEATH PUBLIC-HOUSE
SOCIETY, LIMITED.

This Society, which was formed in
1901. became the owners of the public-
house premises situated at the corner of
High Street and Station Road. Between
1901 and 1925 they gave away in grants
for social an*d charitable purposes the
sum of £18.931, of which £4,380 was
towards the cost of a District Nurse,
£7.016 for a Public Park, and £3,379 for
the Golf Course, laid out and opened in
1910 by Tom Ball and Ben Sayers.

Lieut. W. K. Barclay, founder of

Cowdenbeath Rifle Club' and original

officer of Cowdenbeath Territorials, a

victim of last war.

Miss Alexander, a gold medal vocalist

Mr R. Black
(Promoter of Old Folk's Treat)

History of Coxodenbeath

Early days of motoring. Cowdenbeath Councillors' Day Out.
Provost Penman, Councillor H, Kelso, Provost Wilson and Provost Barclay.

Mr Excans (a veteran violin maker) Mr W. M. Crooks

(A.R.P. Deputy Area Controller)

History of Cowdenbeath

Coii;de?ibeat/i Bowling Green veterans at play

Mr C. C. Reid
(General Manager, Fife Coal Co.)

Provost Barclay

History of Cowdenbeath

Mr Westwater (veteran newsagent and
first member of Cairns Church)

152

History of Cowdenbeath

Personalities

Mr W. M. Watson.

A Cowdenbeath minister who had left
the town before Mr Watson hud been
elected Member of Parliament for Dun-
fermline Burghs stated that he well
remembered a young man coming up
Hi;;h Street of Cowdenbeath with
several volumes under his arm, and
tha~ inquiry might have shown that the*
authors were such men as Rus'kin,

Mr W. M. Watson, M.P.

Carlyle, Adam Smith or Karl Marx. To
those who know William Watson best
that must appeal to them as his best pen
portrait. One feels that he has been
the victim of politics, and, while no one
can gainsay that he has served his con-
stituency faithfully and well, the strong
probability . is that if he had been
allowed to carry on his studies, his
friends and the country at large would
have been better off to-day.

Willie Watson was a student of
psychology and the social conditions of
the times, and his great ambition was
that he would be able to benefit the
working classes of the country with
whose interests he was so closely allied.

Himself a member of a miner's family,
by his experience underground he
gained an inside knowledge of the
common lot of the coal miner, whose
value and worth to the country have
never been properly recognised. This
experience was worth all the privations

he endured and the inconveniences he
" tholed." He could quite easily have
mastered the studies that would have
made him in time a qualified colliery
manager, but such a prospect was not
to his liking. His experiences and his
favourite books pointed out to him a
far more satisfying way of doing his
best for his fellow-men by improving
their working and social conditions. It"
was in this direction that he set his com-
pass. He was a practical psychologist
and social reformer for, after gaining ;.;
large amount of knowledge, he associ-
ated himself with the small band of
socialist workers in the town who, like
him. devoted their energies to the rais-
ing of the standard of the working
classes. That small coterie was not a
popular one and he, like the rest, had
often to bear the hard and unjust
criticism of those whom they were out
to help. Many a strong man would
have replied to that criticism and
ostracism by taking less interest in the
affairs of those whom they strove to
serve, but he and the others were made
of sterner stuff and continued to do what
they had set out to do. Their work bore
fruit and socialism became something
real. Labour took an active interest in
municipal and Parliamentary affairs,
and it is to the credit of the large num-
ber of those who had changed their
politics to that of labour that they chose
one who had done so much spade work
in the past as their Parliamentary repre-
sentative. Into the maelstrom of
politics went Willie Watson. He has
been an ideal Member of Parliament,
especially in his work behind the
scenes. He has never let his private
affairs interfere with the interests of his
constituents, and this to such an extent
that his private life scarcely exists. No
one in trouble and needing advice or
assistance is ever turned away, and no
bar of politics or creed is allowed.

One feels, however, that Willie Wat-
son's life of usefulness has been
hampered rather than helped by his
uotitical life and that he would have
been truer to himself and his friends of
the working classes had he worked from
the outside rather than the inside of
Parliament. This is the day of

History of Cowdenbeatli

specialists, and there is a strong' belief
that had h-; not been thrust into Parlia-
ment the labour world and the world
in general would to-day have had in Mr
Watson an international authority on
world affair:;.

In conclusion, a fitting tribute to Mr
Watson is contained in the following
lines by Mr J. C. Welsh, the Miners'
Poet:—

"As const lint us the ocean tide, as loyal a >
the sun;
If I coii'd pick fair Virtue's sides, Will

Watson would be one.
And virtue would not blush to own this

member of her team,
Too good to push himself alone, too honest
to be mean."

Mrs E. Watson.

In compiling the history of Cowden-
beath a place must be set aside for a
lady who has been prominent in the
social life of the town, Mrs W. M.
Watson.

The wives of many Members of Par-
liament are known only because of the
fact that, they are so, but this is not the
case with Mrs Watson, who is quite as

Mrs Watson.

popular and well known in the town
and community as her husband and
where her name is truly a household
word.

Brought up in Cowdenbeath, she
became first a pupil and later a teacher
in Cowdenbeath Public School, where
she gained an experience that was
valuable to her when she became a
member of Beath School Board in 1911.

Three years later she became Chairman
of that body, which position she held
until the Education Act of 1918 came
into force. By this time she had made
her presence felt in educational affairs
as she was the prime mover of the free
books scheme which was introduced in
the Parish of Beath, and later through-
out Fife. She continued her activities
as a member of Fife Education Com-
mittee and served on that body until
1930.

She was elected a member of Cow-
denbeath Town Council in 1936, and lot-
four years she has represented the
Burgh on Fife County Council.

For twenty-two years she has been x
member of the Board of Management of
Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society — a
record for a lady — and has been Presi-
dent of the Co-operative Women's Guild
for Scotland for four years. For four-
teen years she has been associated with
the Cowdenbeath Nursing Association,
and has been a hard worker on the War
Pensions Committee from 1915 till the
present time. She was one of the lead-
ing persons in the W.V.S.. one of three
selected for Scotland, and is now acting
in connection with the Price of Goods
Act for East and South of Scotland, and
for the Food Control Committee for the
same area. She was closely associated
with the I.L.P. until the split when the
Labour Party left that body.

Mrs Watson has had various honours
conferred on her, including that of
Justice of the Peace, and O.B.E. after
the last War. Mrs Watson does not
parade these honours. An official of
the Education Authority who is
acquainted with her work on public
bodies writes as follows: —

" When I want to draw a mental
picture of Mrs Watson under the best
conditions I recall a picture of her in
the Special School at Cowdenbeath.
She was responsible for this school
being brought into existence, a school
for the education of* backward children.
As a teacher, she was well aware of the
tragic fate of backward children.
Teachers could not afford to set the pace
of education of a class on the ability of
the slowest pupil. They were simply
left behind and neglected, and when
they did leave school it was not because
they had reached a satisfactory educa-
tional standard but that they had

History of Cowdenbeath

reached the leaving age. Thus, she
often saw the tragedy of a child of
twelve to fourteen years of age, accord-
ing to the leaving age, being thrust into
the world with a mental age of between
seven and nine years, with not the
slightest chance of competing for posi-
tions in life that required a small
amount of education. This set her
thinking, and, mainly through her
efforts, the Special School came into
existence at Cowdenbeath. There, each
child is taught according to his or her
ability. Patience is expended on them,
and the educational results have been
extraordinary. One pupil I know rose
to be manager of a grocer's shop, and
others are now filling positions they
otherwise would not have had the
slightest chance of securing but for the
Special School. Mrs Watson had first
to break down the prejudice of the
School Board and, worse and more
annoying, the prejudice of the parents
who were out against their children
going to a ' daft ' school. Many a one
would have replied to such undeserved
opposition by simply giving them their
own way because of their lack of
appreciation, but not Mrs Watson. She
knew she was right and she has won
out, but I often wonder if she will ever
receive the proper appreciation which
she deserves.

i( The picture I referred to is of her
in the Special School at Cowdenbeath,
standing amongst the boys and girls all
so happy in her presence. These child-
ren got their chance in life from Mrs
Watson, and cherished letters from them
and memories of their laughing faces is
one reward of her labours which sho
will always cherish. *'

Mr Archibald Hodge.

Of all the early inhabitants of Cow-
denbeath the greatest all-round person-
ality was undoubtedly Mr Archibald
Hodge, who had a large share in the
development and shaping of the town.
Archie came, as a boy. with his parents
from Kelty. After school Archie found
employment in the coal mines, and his
work was of such a satisfactory nature
that he became an underground official.
As the coal industry prospered the time
came for the sinking of another shaft,
and Archie became responsible for the
sinking of the well-known No. 3 Pit.

It was only natural, therefore, when the
sinking was completed that he should
be appointed as "Gaffer" of the Pit.
Under his capable management the pit
proved to be a successful venture and to
a large extent contributed to the success
of Cowdenbeath Coal Company. He
worked hard in the interests of his
employers, and it is related that on one
occasion when in a hurry to get down
the pit, instead of waiting for the cage

Mr Hodge.

to go down, he slid down the cage rope.
He was always very considerate of the
men under him. especially of the older
men who had spent the best part of
their lives in the coal mine, and as long
as they were able to go down the pit
and do some sort of work he allowed
them to carry on. In these days of
oncost work, 'whether down the pit or
on the surface, a man's authority to
work was the getting of a shovel from
the gaffer. Archie gave the old men
each a shovel, and though he did not
look for more work than they were able
to do, and some did very little, they
dare not discard their shovel if he was
around, and the mere fact that an old
man had his shovel was sufficient
indication that he was earning his
wages. On the other hand, he expected
the general worker to earn the wages
paid him. Some time later he took oyer
the licensed grocer's business belonging

History of Cowdenbeath

to James Meikle in High Street, and
with the help of his two daughters,
Jenny and Maggie, that business pros-
pered. Eventually, he left the manage-
ment of the shop to his elder daughter,
but he was never far away from the
premises. He was a man of very few
words and of a gruff exterior. He was
anything but sociable in conversation,
but those who really knew him found
that this, abrupt manner of conversation
was a very effective, cloak for his highly
generous nature and for his abhorrence
of anything that was not straight or
genuine.

Take another side of his character.
He always paid his way by meeting
accounts as early as possible and never
liked to be asked for money, so that one
day when a commercial traveller pre-
sented his bill with a tone of " payment
wanted now " Erchie said nothing, but
went into his office and returned with
the money. The traveller signed the
account, adding "Paid with thanks,"
but Erchie was not having that. "Na.
na," man, just you write doon there
' Paid wi' cash.' "

Here is a story which is retailed
at the risk of arousing the displeasure
of the family, but it is told in an effort
to illustrate his true character and to
remove any erroneous misconception
from the minds of those who did not
know him. The premises of the old
Cowdenbeath Reading Room, the use of
which had been given to the community
by Cowdenbeath Coal Company free of
rent and taxes and with free coal and
light, became too small and the Com-
mittee were anxious to enlarge the
building and provide a games room and
improve the lending library and reading
room accommodation. Plans were pre-
pared, and the cost was estimated to be
in the region of a thousand pounds.
The Committee had less than one
hundred pounds in hand. The matter
was discussed in all its aspects.
Eventually, two men were appointed to
interview Erchie Hodge. The interview
ended something like this: —

"Do ye ken what ye are thinking
aboot?

" Do ye ken the property is no yours
and the Fife Coal Company can turn
ye oot at a meenut's notice? "

" Yes, we have considered that."

" And do ye still want to cairry on

wi' the alterations? "

" Yes."

" An' hoo are ye gaun to pey it back?"

" We cannot guarantee, but we are
hoping for the best."

"Weel, weel," said Erchie, "if ye
think it." With that he turned and left
the deputation, who thought that was
the end of the matter so far as he was
concerned, but not so, for in two
minutes' time he returned with the sum
required to make the alterations.

" How will we pay you back? " they
said.

" Jist hoo ye like, and ye needna
bother aboot ony interest on the money.
I'll just tak' the siller when you hae it
tae gie me."

Archie was a keen bowler and -a
keener curler, and was first President of
Cowdenbeath Bowling Club. He was
treasurer of the Cowdenbeath Ambul-
ance Waggon Association for several
years, and when he retired the Com-
mittee showed their appreciation of his
services by presenting him with a piece
of silver, but instead of thanking them
in the usual manner he gave them a
severe scolding for daring to spend their
money on him.

All they got was " Ye had nae
business daeing that and I'm no wanting
that," and the present was not taken
out of the packing that night.

Still the silver plate, suitably in-
scribed, will long be cherished by the
family in memory of their father who
did so much for Cowdenbeath.

Just a closing story. Erchie never
liked to have his photograph taken, but
one day he allowed this to be done to
please his family. When he saw the
result his sole comment was: " Weel, it
may be a guid likeness, but it's a sorry
picter."

Mr Thomas Blarney.

Prominent among all public men in
Cowdenbeath stands out one man, Mi-
Thomas Blarney. It will be a difficult
matter to catalogue all the different
bodies with which Mr Blarney has been
connected at one time or another, but it
is sufficient to say that he has devoted a
lifetime to the interests of the com-
munity.

Mr Blarney, whose parents came from
Cornwall, was born in one of.the houses
known as "Diamond Row" in High

History of Coiudenbeath

Street. Mr Blarney's father lost his life
in the pit, and his mother was left to
bring up a young family on her own
exertions. • This has given Mr Blarney
an education that he would otherwise
have missed, an education that has been
applied to the benefit of the town and
its inhabitants.

An American millionaire once said to
the writer that he had a great ambition
to be a journalist and an author, but he
suffered from one drawback to that
ambition, and that was his wealth. This
is true to a very large extent, and the
people of Cowdenbeath should be
thankful that Mr Blarney was not born
with a silver spoon in his mouth. One
Cowdenbeath man who has been a life-
long friend of Mr Blarney has stated
that he has been one of the most mis-
understood men in public life. One
reason given for this is that Mr Blarney
has always refused to be confined in his
public work by the restrictions of party
politics. He judges each question
entirely on its merits and its possible -
effect on the community, and his
support or criticism is based only on that
principle.

Over forty years ago he was an active
member of the Anchor of Hope Good
Templar Lodge and here learned the
rules of public debate. He then allied
himself to the Baptist Church and has
remained a faithful member. For some
time he kept out of politics until the
claims of the working people of the
country gained his "sympathy and.
seeing in the Labour Party an oppor-
tunity to improve the conditions of his
fellow-workmen, he joined that Party.
As a member, he believed with the other
members that their purpose could best
be served by representation on local
public bodies, and it was no surprise
when he was among the first to stand
election for office. Success attended his
nominations, and soon he was a member
of four bodies: — Beath School Board,
Cowdenbeath Town Council and Fife
County Council. Having secured such a
large share of public confidence, he
fashioned his public work to merit it.
He studied all the laws and legislation
which governed those different bodies,
and to-day he is looked upon as an
authority on all matters pertaining to
Local Government.

This was first of all apparent in
educational administration, and his

intimate knowledge of the Education
Acts helped him greatly as a member of
Beath School Board and Chairman of
Beath School Management Committee,
and later of Fife Education Committee
and Fife County Council.
In Town Council administration he
studied the work of the different de-
partments, but in one department he
has excelled himself, that of housing and
town planning, and, as Convener of the

Mr Haklane.

Few persons have risen to prominence
in music or literature with, perhaps, the
exception of Mr J. H. Haldane, the well-
known Brass Band Conductor, whose
teaching has won honours for several
bands.

Housing Committee he is in his right
place. In critical debates his intimate
knowledge of all legislation affecting
housing has surprised even his nearest
friends. When convinced that he is
right he refuses to budge, and though
he has often accepted with grace the
majority ruling against him, he often
found himself in the position of being
able to say afterwards " I told you so,''
but refrained. He is at present Con-
vener of the A.R.P. Committee of the-
Town Council and Convener of the
Public Health Committee of the County
Council.

History, of Cowdenbeath

His golden rule seems to be:— " Do
unto others as you would that they
should do unto you," while his life's
work might well be fashioned around
the motto: " Honesty is the best policy,
but we should not be honest because it
is the best policy, but because it is
right."

Jack Jones, hero oj Moss Morran
Disaster.

The Fight for Freedom

Cowdenbeath did not show a lack of
patriotism during the Great War nor is
she doing so on the occasion of the pre-
sent war. A large number of her son?
made the supreme sacrifice in the last
war _ as the names inscribed on the War
Memorial on the North End Hill gives
testimony. At the time of writing,
although quite a number of Cowden-
beath natives have been made prisoners
of war after the capitulation of France,
only a very few have given their lives
in this great struggle for freedom and
democracy.

Mr McKelvie, R.A.F.

*Jz ;*• ,Nn Wa % > „ ? v_

Private Oliver.

Corporal Young.

Safety in Mines

Despite Government legislation, a re-
grettable feature of the coal industry
has been the number of accidents that
took place, a large percentage of which
were fatal, and the number increased
with the introduction of machinery and
the speeding up of coal production.

Several years ago, however, the Fife
Coal Company commenced a greater
safety campaign, and it has proved to be
a great success in the reduction in the
number of accidents. A safety engineer
was appointed— Dr Williamson — who
devotes all his time and energy to
schemes whereby the accidents in mines
will be reduced to a minimum. Each
colliery has its safety committee, who
hold regular meetings when the acci-
dents are reported in detail, so that such
accidents can be prevented. Safety
articles of clothing have been introduced
and are in general use.

History of Cowdenbeath

Safety classes for boys are being held,
with the result that when a boy com-
mences work he is fully aware of all
the dangers that are to. be met with
during the course of his employment.

Since the inception of these classes,
approximately three thousand safety
certificates have been issued. Besides
these safety classes for boys there are
also classes for adults, and it is highly
significant that the employees are co-
operating with the management in all
the various schemes that are accomplish-
ing so much. The success attained is now
generally recognised, and . last year
Captain H. Cruikshanks, Minister of
Mines, paid a visit to Cowdenbeath to
get the latest information about the
greater safety campaign.

Mine Rescue Station

Mr Stevenson.

The Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan
Coalowners' Association Mine Rescue
Station is in Stenhouse Street, Cowden-
beath. In this building a very large
number of men have been trained in
mine rescue work. A gentleman closely
associated with this building is the late
Mr David Stevenson. He took a very
prominent interest in ambulance train-
ing and rescue work in mines, and he
was the unanimous choice for the posi-
tion of Superintendent. Following his
death the appointment of a successor
naturally fell on his son .Alexander
Stevenson, who was his father's" first
assistant and who performed such out-
standing work in recent mine disasters
in Scotland, notably Redding, Bowhill,
and Valleyfield.

Visit of Captain Cruikshanks.

'V-'-^>i-' /_ jm. ■ •*, >S

Presentation of Certificates.

Among the many photographs in this
book are several for the use of which
we are indebted to Messrs Given &
Paton (Cowdenbeath), the Proprietors
of the Coiodenbeath. Advertiser, the
Proprietors of the Dunfermline & West
Fife Journal, and Cowdenbeath Co-oper-
ative Society.

History of Cowdenbeath

i..

Mrs Watson. Dr W. Reid.

W. Ewing

History of Cowdenbeath

Champion First-aiders from No. 7 Pit, Cowdenbeath.

Left to right— Sitting— W. Ferguson (capt.K W. Reid (manager). W, E. S. Peach (agent). A.
Prentice (under-maanger).
Standing— David Fernie, W. Spittal, A. Bain. T. Bonnar, u"d J. Davidson.

Raising Cowdenbeath Championship Flag 1939

■FTF

History of Cowdenbeath

Veteran Miners at Play.

Bowling Clubhouse.

History of Cowdenbeath

Rescue Station,

Y.M.C.A. Gathering at Central Park.

► .?,

W.REEKIE

« SONS

<®ualtt]t> $robuct£

COWDENBEATH

CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

Under present conditions we may not be able to give you the Variety your Tea

Table demands. But In our Scone Craft, we can, as for the past 25 years,

satisfy the discrimination of the public for a Girdle Scone made by Craftsmen

= from the very Finest Materials. ?

Let not your Table be without them.

ONE PENNY Each.

If it is a question of

FURNITURE

// is only commonsense
to visit

CONNER'S

64 High Street

Travel in Com fort
Costs no more . .

LARGE FLEET OF LUXURY SALOONS
ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Efficient Service Department

> nM ■■■uii«i,uii«..i MI >iii«aiiiii« ■■■■■■

Beath Motor Co.

Phone : Cowdenbeath 2270
Cardenden 242

THE STORE WITH A
THOUSAND SURPRISES

Messrs

Peter Brand

Limited

The House that Value Built

Drapers Milliners

Ladies' Childrens'

and
Gentlemen's Outfitters

407-409 HIGH ST., COWDENBEATH

THE OWNERSHIP OF A HOME CREATES
A DEGREE OF PERSONAL PRIDE AND
EFFORT AND THAT DETERMINATION
TO CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES
OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP. ~

RICHARD STREET

SOLE PARTNER : HARRY STREET

consult BUILDING CONTRACTOR tel. 2151

34 EAST PARK STREET

COWDENBEATH

ADVICE COSTS YOU NOTHING AND MAY SAVE YOU A LOT

• l )

Still Playing the Game

BOBBY TAIT

Suited Cowdenbeath Football
Public for many years

He now SUITS the General
Public

R. C.Tait&Son

Ladies' and Gent.'s Tailors

56 Stenhouse Street

Pay Us a Call—

- You will not regret it

Lumphinnans

public - HOUSE

(Late Lumphinnans Goth)

Proprietor - ANDREW DICK

Everything of the Best

Every Comfort Guaranteed

RAITH ARMS

INN

Bridge Street

Has enjoyed a popularity for
over forty years for Service and
Quality still being maintained

Walker Bros.

General Haulage Contractors

Moss^side Road

Our Motto for Sixty Years :
AT YOUR SERVICE

m /l Cordial Welcome is assured to all
Cowdenbeath People when they visit

BOB DUNCAN

Qyeen's Hotel, INVERKEITHING

Late of OLD INN

Cowdenbeath's Original Hotel

JOHN LAW, PERTHROAO

Stocks the Best

FRUITS, CONFECTIONS
And Specialises in

FLOWERS, WREATHS, SPRAYS, CROSSES.
And WEDDING BOUQUETS

Always at Hand!

PETER WATT

NEWSAGENT. STATIONER, TOBACCONIST
and GENERAL PRINTER

NORTH END <S£ 349 HIGH STREET

G. Ferg

uson

TAILOR

HIGH STREET

♦ ♦ ♦

A knowledge of Cowdenbeath
Tailoring Requirements gained
from close on fifty years'
experience is at your service

ALEXANDER T. ROLLAND

fainter anb JBecorator
137 HIGH STREET, COWDENBEATH

also at DUNFERMLINE

Specialist in Plastic Paint Work

Largest Selection of Wallpaper in District

Leylands' Paints -- Sole Stockists

Estimates for all Classes of Decorations
Telephones: Cowdenbeath 3112 Dunfermline 293

House Address: ST. JOHN'S, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline, phone 120

GAS HAS SERVED

-»><^S-

This community with ever increasing
satisfaction, utility and convenience

itJil

FOR 50 YEARS

■i

BE UP-TO-DATE WITH GAS !

It is unrivalled in the field of Lighting,
Heating, Cooking, Water Heating
Wash Boiler and Heating Processes
for Commercial and Industrial Purposes.

LET GAS BE YOUR SERVANT

Our SHOW ROOMS in HIGH STREET
contain the Latest and Best Appliances
for your inspection, and all can be
obtained on very reasonable terms.

COWDENBEATH GAS COMPANY, Ltd.

WE UNDERTAKE

TO GIVE SATISFACTION IN

WORKMANSHIP

* * *

J. B. ARMSTRONG

JOINER AND UNDERTAKER

HIGH STREET

• • •

Day and Night Service

Telephone 2254 Cowdenbeath

uahej

LADIES' If KIR STYLIST

All Branches of Halrdressing
and Beauty Culture carried
out by Skilled Operators

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7J2 t^f-riali <z~>fteet

Phone 2224

CROWN

HOTEL

After 73 Years still the

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